Paul Chapman will coach Kyneton in the Bendigo Football League in 2021

Bendigo Football League club Kyneton has kicked off the local footy off-season with a big win, securing Geelong premiership star Paul Chapman as senior coach for 2021.

Paul Chapman during his time at Greenvale. Picture: Jamie Morey

Bendigo Football League club Kyneton has scored a major coup, signing Geelong premiership great Paul Chapman as senior coach for 2021.

Chapman takes the reins after departing Essendon District club Greenvale in June and replaces Nathan Thompson, who has taken on a football manager role with the Tigers.

A three-time AFL premiership player and 2009 Norm Smith Medallist, Chapman played 280 games for Geelong and Essendon.

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He then led Greenvale for three seasons, taking the Jets to finals in two, including a Premier Division grand final in 2017, before a fifth-placed finish in 2019.

Thompson helped co-ordinate the search for the new coach and was delighted when Chapman agreed to terms.

“Paul lives in the region and I got to know him last year … once we put together the application process I jumped on the phone and checked his motivation,” he said.

Paul Chapman during his time as coach of Greenvale. Picture: Hamish Blair

“The great thing for us is Paul brings a lot of things to the table.

“It didn’t matter how well known or the coaching background, we wanted to feel whoever got the role ticked the first box, which was quality person.

“Chappy was great during the interviews, he’s down-to-earth, good morals, terrific guy and all the rest of it.

“The coaching side of it, I think you can chase a player that was amazing but not know if they can coach and the fact he had three very good years at Greenvale speaks well for his transition.”

Chapman’s appointment comes after Kyneton wiped out its debt that had seen the club plummet to the bottom of the BFNL ladder.

The Tigers believe securing Chapman is a sign the club is ready to compete again but it will not be at the cost of sustainability.

Nathan Thompson will take on a football manager role at Kyneton. Picture: Aaron Cook

“We’re setting a great foundation for the club and our goal is to get off the merry-go-round of debt,” Thompson said.

“It’s been a bit of a vicious circle, going up and then coming way down, having a lot of debt and lacking competitiveness in the league.

“We’ve got good kids that are coming through and to get a guy like Paul on board shows we’re serious about making our club a great place to be.

“I think what we will get is a lift in engagement from our young people and the core group of players are pretty excited.

“I’m sure Paul will no doubt have one or two guys turn up and say ‘can I play footy with you’ and we’ve got open arms if any interested players that want to get involved.”

Originally published as Paul Chapman will coach Kyneton in the Bendigo Football League in 2021