Tigers on the cusp: ChaplinBy Jason Phelan
Wed 10 Oct, 2012[/i]
RICHMOND recruit Troy Chaplin says he agonised over the decision to leave Port Adelaide, but ultimately the opportunity to join a big club in his hometown of Melbourne was too tempting.
Chaplin played 140 games in nine years before signing with Richmond as a restricted free agent last week.
The Power then chose not to match the Tigers' contract offer.
The 26-year-old said he was grateful for what the Power, who selected him 15th overall at the 2003 NAB AFL Draft, had done for him, but the lure of a four-year deal and the potential to play in finals proved too great.
"The 'go-home' factor was a key to it, but their list is in a fantastic position at the moment … with the guys that they've brought in and added to their list … [and] their younger guys as well," Chaplin told Melbourne radio station SEN on Wednesday.
"Trent Cotchin is going to be a superstar of the competition, we all know that, but they are starting to add some depth now and are on the cusp of playing finals."
Chaplin, who said he didn't make his decision to leave until the day before the Grand Final, also expressed similar views to want-away Crows forward Kurt Tippett.
Tippett sensationally requested a trade to the Sydney Swans on Saturday with a key part of his reasoning to escape the 'fishbowl' lifestyle of being an AFL player in Adelaide.
"Probably the difference, I think, is that we're so accessible over here," Chaplin said from Adelaide.
"Obviously it's a two-team town with the media so prominent and anyone can access you.
"At Port Adelaide if someone wanted to do an interview you pretty much did it. There was no, 'Oh it's just going to be the coach or the captain'.
"The supporters can access you at the [West Lakes] shopping centre.
"Where AAMI Stadium is, right across the road there's a shopping centre and that's where most of the guys go and get a feed.
"Supporters can come up to you and it's pretty full on … but that comes with the territory - you're an AFL footballer and people have got high expectations on your performance, so you've just got to put up with it.
"The thing with Melbourne media is that there are so many teams in Melbourne that you can probably hide a little bit from it."
http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/149488/default.aspx
