Paul Chapman joins Essendon on a one-year deal after trade confirmed with Geelong
Essendon has secured the services of Geelong’s three-time premiership player Paul Chapman on a one-year contract.
And Chapman’s premiership team-mates Josh Hunt and James Podsiadly have also found new homes with Greater Western Sydney and Adelaide respectively.
The Chapman deal, which includes an option of a second year, was confirmed on the final day of the AFL’s trading period, with the Cats to receive pick number 84 in the draft.
The Cats had announced earlier this month it would not be offering Chapman a new contract, with the Bombers always favoured to recruit the 31-year-old.
His move to the Bombers will see him link up with Mark Thompson, who coached the Cats when Chapman won the first two of his three flags in 2007 and 2009.
“I know I still have more football left in me and I’m really pleased Essendon has provided me with the opportunity to continue my career,” Chapman said in a statement.
“It’s going to be great working alongside Bomber, a man who I have so much respect for, and hopefully we can enjoy some more success together.”
Thompson says Chapman’s experience will be vital in 2014, as the Bombers seek to put the drama of the supplements scandal behind them.
“Paul is a terrific signing for the football club, he has a great work ethic, he’s a winner and he demands the best from his team-mates,” Thompson said.
Podsiadly’s move to the Crows was also confirmed on Friday as part of a trade for pick 64 in the draft.
Hunt will move to the Giants for pick 75.
Meanwhile, Brisbane has been the most active club on the final day of the trade period, with the Lions off-loading Patrick Karnezis (Collingwood) and Billy Longer (St Kilda).
The pair join another three players, Sam Docherty (Carlton), Jared Polec (Port Adelaide) and Elliott Yeo (West Coast), to have been traded by the Lions in the last two days.
All five players had requested to leave the club.
The Lions made a straight swap with Collingwood, acquiring Jackson Paine in return, while they took picks 25 and 41 from St Kilda in exchange for Longer and pick 48.
