The clock had ticked in to time-on and the scores were level.

The Grand Final was on the line. 

Geelong stayed true to the formula that had made it so successful. 

Steve Johnson kicked the ball back in to the corridor and tried to spot up Gary Ablett.  The ball was spoiled but thanks to Matthew Scarlett, the recently crowned Brownlow medal winner ended up with the ball anyway. 

He drove it to the top of the goal square.  The pack flew and the ball spilled to Travis Varcoe, who handballed it to Paul Chapman. 

With players charging towards him, the then 27 year old turned on to his left foot and calmly slotted the goal. 

The 2009 Grand Final would belong to Geelong. 

“He nailed the big moments every single time,” former teammate Cameron Ling said. 

“We loved playing with him as teammates because you just knew what you were going to get from ‘Chappy’ every time he took the field.

“He was hard, he was tough, completely committed to the contest, completely committed to putting pressure on the opposition."

It was those qualities that made Chapman such an exciting recruit when he joined the Bombers ahead of the 2014 season.

By round one, fans were cheering his name.  Four goals in your first game for a new club is enough to instantly endear yourself to the faithful. 

Chapman played 20 games that year, including the elimination final, and kicked 22 goals. 

He managed nine games this season as injuries caught up with his 33 year old body.  But his commitment never wavered.  In his final game he laid 11 tackles.

“Footy’s been very good to me, now it’s just time to reflect and enjoy the great times I’ve had, enjoy the people that I’ve met,” Chapman said. 

His time with the Bombers was fleeting but the mark he left on his teammates will remain and it’s those teammates he will miss most. 

“Just coming in and seeing all the boys all the time,” Chapman said. 

“We’ll always be friends but just not seeing the guys everyday and pushing each other, yeah, I’ll miss that a lot.”

Before reaching the heights of the AFL, Chapman attended Hadfield High School in Melbourne’s north. 

Teachers remember a good student who could fire up at times. 

He grew up in Fawkner, the youngest of four siblings. 

“Mum’s really upset that it’s ended, if it was up to her I’d play for another four years,” Chapman said. 

“There isn’t much left in the tank.  The support is everything and I thank them and all my coaches I’ve had through the years. 

“There have been so many people who invest so much in to you as a person and as a footballer. 

“I’d like to think I’ve made a lot of people proud.” 

Three premierships, a Norm Smith medal, two All-Australians and a best and fairest make for a full trophy cabinet. 

But Chapman leaves the game with much more than that. 

He leaves with the respect of teammates, the opposition and supporters. 

“I always loved the fact he played footy the right way,” Ling said. 

“First and foremost he was a footballer. 

“Just loved the contest, loved the competiveness of playing the a game of footy.

“Jeez he did it well.”