If anyone knows how significant a successful VFL campaign can be in laying the foundations for future AFL success, it’s Paul Chapman. 

The Essendon forward told teammates of his decision to retire today. 

He also stated his intention to maintain a strong presence around the club in the coming weeks as a show of support for the VFL side's finals campaign. 

In 2002, Chapman was part of Geelong’s VFL premiership team. 

Lining up alongside him were Gary Ablett, Jimmy Bartel, Steve Johnson, James Kelly and Josh Hunt.

“We went from an average club to a good club then,” Chapman said. 

“It set us up really well, it let us know that we’re pretty good players and not a bad team. 

“We just built off that and kept getting better and better.” 

A decade later that VFL line up had produced six premiership players, five All-Australians, three Norm Smith Medal winners and two Brownlow medal winners. 

The Cats opponent in that 2002 Grand Final, Port Melbourne (then affiliated with Sydney), also produced three premiership players (Amon Buchanan, Ryan O’Keeffe and Adam Schneider). 

Chapman knows the amount of confidence that flag instilled in he and his teammates. 

He will be a keen onlooker as the Essendon VFL side tries to win a premiership of its own and lay the foundations for a period of sustained AFL success.

“There were a few hiccups in between, but no doubt that was the platform for us and we built off that,” he said. 

“Hopefully the boys can do that this year.”

Chapman will play his final match this Saturday against Richmond.