From his humble beginnings at the Calder Cannons, to his premiership success with the Cats and then the important role he has played as a leader in his short time at the Bombers, there is no doubt that Paul Chapman will be remembered as one of the greats of this game.

We take a quick look back at some of the key moments in his career.

1999:

• Finished runner up in Calder Cannons best & fairest
• Named in TAC Cup team of the year
• Played for Victoria metro at U18 national championship
• Played AFL reserves with Essendon and Melbourne as ‘top up’ player

2000:

• Made AFL debut in rd 12 vs. Collingwood at MCG, a four point win
• Played four games, including elimination final, when he kicked his first goal
• Finished 3rd in Cats reserves best & fairest

2001:

• Played nine games
• Kicked two goals vs. Richmond in rd 9

2002:

• Played 16 games, including last 15 of the season
• Had 26 disposals in rd 9 vs. Bulldogs, his first 20 possession match. Also kicked three goals in that game
• Named as Cats most improved player
• Finished 8th in best & fairest
• Member of Cats VFL premiership team

2003:

• Played all 22 games
• Booted four goals vs. West Coast in rd 7
• Kicked last minute game winning goal vs. Richmond in rd 15 at Telstra Dome
• Named as best team and most constructive player
• Played 50th game in rd 21 vs. Lions at the Gabba
• Finished 8th in best & fairest

2004:

• Played all 25 games including three finals
• Had double figure possessions in 24 matches
• Booted 38 goals. Had 12 games with multiple goals
• Finished 9th in best & fairest
• Played in Wizard Cup grand final vs. St Kilda

2005:

• Played 19 games but missed finals through injury
• Kicked 29 goals, with at least one goal in all but one match
• Booted four goals in rd 14 win over Hawthorn
• Finished 6th in best & fairest

2006:

• Won first club best & fairest after playing all 22 games
• Also won coach’s award
• 100th AFL game came in rd 5 vs. Swans at Olympic Stadium
• Polled 14 Brownlow votes to finish 9th
• Set career high with 35 possessions in rd 22 vs. Hawthorn
• Twice had career high 13 handballs (vs. Adelaide, vs. Hawthorn)
• Was 15th in AFL with 331 disposals
• Played in NAB Cup grand final win over the Crows

2007:

• Capped season by kicking four goals in premiership win over Power
• Finished 2nd in Norm Smith medal voting
• Took one of the all time great grand final marks on members flank
• Played 19 games and kicked 30 goals
• Had double figure possessions in every game
• Had career best nine tackles in rd 20 win over Nth Melb
• Set career high with five goals in qualifying final win over Nth Melb
• Had career best 24 kicks vs. Essendon in rd 14
• 100th career goal came in rd 13 vs. Lions at the Gabba

Costume King at one of Geelong's 'Mad Monday' celebrations.

2008:

• Played 19 games (18-1) and second straight grand final
• Had 20 + disposals in 14 of 19 games
• Kicked 33 goals
• Equaled career high with five goals vs. West Coast in rd 13
• Equaled career best with 12 marks vs. Freo in rd 15
• 150th game in rd 16 vs. Bulldogs at Skilled Stadium, a 61 point win
• 200th career goal came in rd 21 vs. Nth Melb
• Played for Victoria vs. dream team in AFL hall of fame game

2009:

• Played in his second premiership and third consecutive grand final
• Won Norm Smith medal and kicked game winning goal in GF
• Earned All Australian honours for the first time
• Was brilliant in finals. Kicked three goals in GF and five in PF
• Had 20+ disposals in 16 of his 20 games
• Kicked career best 6 goals in two point win over Crows in rd 18
• Win over Freo in rd 12 was Paul’s 100th AFL victory
• Set career best with 41 disposals vs Melb in rd 6
• Career high 24 kicks in rd 3 vs Collingwood
• Took 14 marks vs Port in rd 13
• Established a then season career highs in kicks, handballs and possessions
• Received 12 Brownlow votes
• Ranked 15th in the AFL with 342 kicks
• Helped Cats to NAB Cup GF win over Collingwood

2010:

• Enjoyed another brilliant season, earning All Australian honours for second time
• Set career bests with 676 possessions, 412 kicks, 264 handballs and 99 tackles
• Had at least 21 disposals in all 24 games he played
• Had seven games with 30+ disposals
• Career best 18 handballs came in rd 8 win over Lions
• Kicked 23 goals from 39 shots
• Ranked 9th in AFL with 676 possessions and 3rd in kicks with 412
• Finished fifth in best & fairest

2011:

• Capped year with third premiership and fourth GF
• Played 23 games and all three finals
• His 540 possessions were second best season in his career
• 104 tackles for season are a career high
• Had 18 games with 20+ disposals
• Equaled career best with 10 tackles vs Hawthorn in rd 5
• Had 5+ tackles in 10 games
• Played 200th game in rd 2 win over Fremantle

2012:

• Kicked 26 goals for the season
• Played in 21 games averaging 20 disposals a game
• Kicked 4 goals against Hawthorn in round 19

2013:

• Limited to eight games due to hamstring injury
• Kicked 12 goals
• Had 20+ disposals in six games
• Returned from injury as sub vs Syd in rd 22 and made impact off the bench
• Booted multiple goals in four games
• Played his 250th game in QF vs Freo
• Best game came in SF win over Power, booting four goals and laying six tackles
• Missed PF through suspension
• Finished his career with Cats with 251 games and 336 goals
• Played in 166 winning games

Always proud to Don The Sash! 

2014:

• Joined Essendon after not being offered a contract renewal from Geelong
• Kicked four goals in his first game for the club in round 1 against North Melbourne
• Played in 20 games for the Bombers including the elimination final loss against North Melbourne where he kicked 2 goals
• Finished the season with 22 goals
• Polled four Brownlow votes
• Signed a contract extension to play one more year at the club

2015:

• Chosen by his peers to join Essendon’s leadership group
•  An injury restricted year has seen the champion only play eight games