Paul Chapman’s glory days at Geelong are over, but the three-time premiership player is determined to continue his AFL career elsewhere.
The Cats confirmed on Thursday afternoon that the tough midfielder and forward would leave the club.
Earlier in the day, they also announced key forward James Podsiadly had joined defender Josh Hunt as players who will not be offered new contracts.
It is understood that Chapman was to speak at Thursday night’s club best and fairest count.
Chapman is an unrestricted free agent and his manager Liam Pickering is confident the utility will find a new home.
“I’m not sure about the other clubs – I have a couple I’ve been speaking to,” Pickering said.
“He’ll find a home, he’s too good a footballer.”
Pickering added it was disappointing that Chapman, who turns 32 next month, would not end his career with the Cats.
Chapman made his debut in 2000 and played 251 games for the Cats.
The two-time All-Australian won the club’s 2006 best and fairest award and was a key member of the team that won the 2007, `09 and `11 premierships.
Chapman won the Norm Smith Medal as best afield in the tight 2009 grand final win over St Kilda despite suffering a hamstring injury during the match.
He famously snapped the winning goal late in the final term after Matthew Scarlett’s crucial midfield toe-poke.
“The history of Geelong Football Club will not be able to be written without a huge chapter focusing on Chappy’s contribution,” Geelong coach Chris Scott said in a club statement.
“Chappy will go down as a legend of this club.
“He has decided that he would like to extend his career and we wish him well.
“No doubt he will bring his passion whenever he plays against us, as he should.
“Regardless of where he goes from here, he will always be remembered as a Geelong icon.”
Podsiadly also said he is keen to keep playing.
He was drafted as a mature-aged rookie in 2009, and became a cult hero while kicking 100 goals in his first two AFL seasons.
Podsiadly took the long path to an AFL career, with stints at Essendon (2000-2001) and Collingwood (2002) before becoming a dominant VFL player while with Werribee.
He then switched to Geelong’s VFL side as both a player and fitness coach in 2009, made his debut the following year and was part of the Cats’ premiership side in 2011.
