Nathan Chapman (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Nathan Chapman was a former Australian rules football
er who had a short career in the Australian Football League
before a brief stint as an American Football
punter. At the time, he was one of few Australians to be contracted at the top level in both the AFL and NFL.
Chapman was selected in the 1992 AFL Draft
at pick 2 by the struggling Brisbane Bears
, from Kangaroo Flat
. The Bears outfit, short of key defenders used the lightly built 188 cm tall Chapman at full back
against many of the game's power forwards in his first few seasons. Having been occasionally humiliated in key positions and taking some time to bulk up his body, Chapman was often tried in the forward line with some success.
After injury and inconsistent form, he was traded in 1997 to the Hawthorn Hawks having played just 49 games for the Bears and 11 with the Lions
.
Injury again struck and Chapman was relegated to the Victorian Football League
affiliate before being eventually delisted in 2000 having played only 16 senior games with the Hawks.
In 2004, a few years after being delisted by the Hawks,and after many months of practice, Chapman went to the United States
, where he was signed by the Green Bay Packers
as a free agent
. Chapman played in 3 pre-season games for Green Bay, at one point out punting one of the club's rookies. Chapman also spent time at the rookie and senior minicamps of the Chicago Bears.
Chapman is Director and Coach of Prokick Australia with ex NFL and CFL free agent placekicker John A. Smith. ProKick Australia is an American football punting and placekicking school in Australia which trains and assesses Australians to the standard required for NCAA, NFL and CFL punting and placekicking positions.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er who had a short career in the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
before a brief stint as an American Football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
punter. At the time, he was one of few Australians to be contracted at the top level in both the AFL and NFL.
Chapman was selected in the 1992 AFL Draft
1992 AFL Draft
The 1992 AFL Draft is the annual draft of talented players by Australian rules football teams that participate in the main competition of that sport, the Australian Football League...
at pick 2 by the struggling Brisbane Bears
Brisbane Bears
The Brisbane Football Club, formerly nicknamed The Bears was an Australian rules football club and the first Queensland-based club in the Victorian Football League . The club played its first match in 1987, but struggled on and off the field until it made the finals for the first time in 1995...
, from Kangaroo Flat
Kangaroo Flat Football Club
The Kangaroo Flat Football Club are an Australian rules football club which compete in the Bendigo Football League .They are based in the Bendigo suburb Kangaroo Flat.-History:...
. The Bears outfit, short of key defenders used the lightly built 188 cm tall Chapman at full back
Fullback (Australian rules football)
In Australian rules football, the fullback position has traditionally been a purely defensive role, with the aim of preventing the full-forward from marking the ball and scoring. However, in recent times, where the ability to move the ball out of defence and down the field quickly has become a more...
against many of the game's power forwards in his first few seasons. Having been occasionally humiliated in key positions and taking some time to bulk up his body, Chapman was often tried in the forward line with some success.
After injury and inconsistent form, he was traded in 1997 to the Hawthorn Hawks having played just 49 games for the Bears and 11 with the Lions
Brisbane Lions
The Brisbane Lions is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Brisbane, Queensland. The club was formed from the merger of the Brisbane Bears and the Fitzroy Lions in 1996...
.
Injury again struck and Chapman was relegated to the Victorian Football League
Victorian Football League
The Victorian Football League which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association , taking its new name as from the 1996 season, is the premier Australian rules football league in Victoria The Victorian Football League (VFL) which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association...
affiliate before being eventually delisted in 2000 having played only 16 senior games with the Hawks.
In 2004, a few years after being delisted by the Hawks,and after many months of practice, Chapman went to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, where he was signed by the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
as a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
. Chapman played in 3 pre-season games for Green Bay, at one point out punting one of the club's rookies. Chapman also spent time at the rookie and senior minicamps of the Chicago Bears.
Chapman is Director and Coach of Prokick Australia with ex NFL and CFL free agent placekicker John A. Smith. ProKick Australia is an American football punting and placekicking school in Australia which trains and assesses Australians to the standard required for NCAA, NFL and CFL punting and placekicking positions.