Goodbye Maryborough, hello Port Adelaide says Chaplin

blackdiamond

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courtesy of www.portadelaidefc.com.au

Goodbye Maryborough, hello Port Adelaide says Chaplin



Troy Chaplin, the Power’s prized first selection at the 2003 National Draft, left his hometown of Maryborough in Victoria on Sunday to begin his new life as a Power player and told media on Monday morning he was “really looking forward to the challenge”.

“It's great (to be drafted by Port Adelaide),” he said, “Adelaide's a beautiful city, Port Adelaide's one of the best clubs in the competition, facilities are second to none, it will be great.”

The Power drafted Chaplin from the North Ballarat Rebels with selection no. 15 at last month’s draft. He comes to the club with big wraps on his ability as a key defender who can also play forward. Power recruiting manager Alan Stewart has heaped praise on Chaplin for his ability to read the play, his maturity, and leadership qualities.

The 17-year-old only made his decision to pursue football over his preferred childhood sport of basketball 18 months ago. Chaplin represented Victoria Country at U16 and U18 level but gave the game away when he was selected in the AIS/AFL Academy side.

Chaplin had been travelling to Melbourne every second Friday night to play with the Bendigo Braves in the Victorian Basketball Association and then backing up the following day to play football for the at Rebels in the U18 TAC Cup.

Chaplin is hopeful the late start to his football career will mean there is a lot of improvement left in him and has been encouraged by the way new teammate Dean Brogan has made the switch from NBL to AFL.

“My game's come a lot through basketball. I've played basketball all my life. Football I've just started really playing the past 18 months,” he said.

“At the draft camp we (Mark Williams and I) talked about Dean how he made the transition across from basketball to football and we've got Matt Illman (from West Adelaide) trying to get on the rookie list which is another great example of how basketball helps football.

“Hopefully I can live up to them expectations of how they're saying I've got a lot of improvement and I'll be really working hard to get there.”

Chaplin, who presented as a confident and well spoken young man on day one at Port Adelaide, said he was hopeful of being able to play at AFL level in 2004.

“I'll be looking forward to a strong pre-season and see what happens from there,” he said.

“They've said I'm going to be a long-term player so I'll be really hoping to make my presence felt in the first year. My main goal is to play AFL next year.

“I like to get out on the track and really get behind each other, rev up the team and I'm really looking forward to getting out there and getting on the track with the boys.”

Chaplin supported Essendon until he was drafted by Port Adelaide and looked up to Bomber captain James Hird and this year’s Norm Smith Medallist Simon Black from Brisbane.

He said he was best suited to a defensive position but could play forward if needed and was looking forward to developing his game with the key position players at the club.

“Probably hardness at the ball is an area I need to really work on and ground balls. I'll be looking to work on them over summer and get some body on body with Tredders or Cornesy or someone like that,” he said.

“They've been in the game a few years now and are some of the best forwards going around so I'm really looking forward to doing some work with them.”

Chaplin and the four other players the Power took in the draft began training with the club on Monday and were straight into the firing line with a 2.2km time trial.

Former Essendon player Rob Forster-Knight led the group home as expected although none of the teenagers – Chaplin, Luke Peel, Brad Symes or Michael Pettigrew – were too far behind.

Look out for Rob Forster-Knight and Michael Pettigrew stories on the Power and Big Footy website (and across the media) when they speak to the media this Wednesday.
 

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PAfolwr

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#2
Originally posted by Scott
Look out for Rob Forster-Knight and Michael Pettigrew stories on the Power and Big Footy website (and across the media) when they speak to the media this Wednesday.
That's cheeky Scott. :D
 

Macca19

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Re: Re: Goodbye Maryborough, hello Port Adelaide says Chaplin

After reading on this website from a few people that they reckon hes quite slack and isnt overly hard at the ball, its good to see that Troy himself recognises this and wants to work on it.
 

Portia

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#4
Troy latches onto new ball game by Mr. Capel.

A classic key-position type, with the bonus of being a left-footer in a team that has been missing a left-footer in defence, Chaplin reads the play well, is composed under pressure and has good endurance. He also can pinch-hit up forward.

Chaplin, who used to barrack for Essendon, aims to play in Port's opening home-and-away fixture next season.



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At least he's ambitious. So does this mean we've drafted two Essendon players this year?

Also, he's the first tall we've drafted in the first round since Chad Cornes in 1997. In 1996 we picked up Lockwood and Harwood.
 

Port01

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#5
Originally posted by Porthos
Also, he's the first tall we've drafted in the first round since Chad Cornes in 1997. In 1996 we picked up Lockwood and Harwood. [/B]
Gilham? Or do you mean first pick rather than first round.
 
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