Above: Hampton Park coach Jason Chapple regards himself as lucky to be able to continue his involvement in the sport he loves after retiring as a player.I WAS sitting in my pyjamas on a Thursday night when the phone call asking if I would like to play for Bonbeach seniors came.
“Shit yeah,” was my response!
The club I had watched since I was five years old and played all my junior football with wanted me and I couldn’t wait to get to school to tell everyone.
The sky was the limit. Senior footy! Collingwood scouts would probably be there. Who knows where this could lead me?
I looked at the calendar, it was 10 May, 1988. I thought, ‘this will last forever’.
Every player believes that, no matter how high they play, but eventually the reality that it will end hits you.
The previous three years before I came to Hampton Park I coached a losing preliminary final by four points, a losing grand final by 11 goals and lost another grand final by just one point (all with Bonbeach).
Then, to have a fallout with a club I had represented for 20 years and coached for the last three, I had to ask myself, ‘did I want to put myself through that sort of thing again?’
‘Shit yeah’ was my response.
For the first time in my life I looked past the playing field. Michael O’Brien, who I had played against a number of times and respected greatly, asked me to take the Redbacks coaching job on and I said yes.
I’ll admit I was scared and wondering if I had done the right thing.
As soon as the season started I knew I was coming to the end of my playing days, but coaching Hampton Park rejuvenated me and the spirit of the place gave me the confidence that I could keep going – for now.
Against all odds, we made the finals and played Pakenham in the first game.
On the Friday night beforehand I told my assistant Tristan Lanarus and chairman of selectors Cam Field, who were and still are great mates, that if we didn’t get over the Lions, that would be it for me.
The Lions were too good and afterwards, I never felt so empty.
I let the club know of my decision and they accepted it a little too easily for my liking. I wouldn’t have minded a token, ‘you’re a long time out of it’, but the decision had been made.
It was September and the work started straight away, as it does these days. I was ringing players, selling the club and occasionally seeing the wife and kids.
Pre-season started in November and it was great to be back with the boys. Nothing beats the hard work, laughs and banter involved in kicking the footy around.
Then I sat down, looked around and it hit me – I was retired. I started thinking about the blokes who I had played with and who had retired and how they had coped.
Coaching Hampton Park was the best decision I have made in football. It’s a great league – tough, unforgiving, passionate. You would go a long way to find a better competition. I was lucky to be coaching and I thought how empty it would be to go out cold-turkey.
You hear about players who can’t watch the game or have to get away from the club and you then ask ‘how many of us, as clubs, do enough for players who have given it away?’
How many times over the years have I heard people say ‘he was a great bloke’?
I’m tipping he still is, he just doesn’t play football any more.
At country level, all players play with just as much pride as any AFL star, if not more, and the old bloke at the bar is worth talking to.
If you take the time to have a chat, you might find out he played the game with the same passion as you.
In 1988 I was the important one, but now, I suppose, I’m the old bloke at the bar.
I’m not depressed, but definitely deflated by not running out with the boys. You think about it night and day and it does hurt.
Did I take my footy for granted? Did I get enough out of my footy?
My advice is, don’t take your football for granted and to the retirees, don’t be lost to footy. Know that you did and still do make a difference to your club.
Whether you play football now through your kids or through your local side, or even follow the AFL, don’t be lost to this great game.
It hurts you, shapes you, is there through your ups and downs and brings out every emotion you have.
Was it and is it all worth it?
Shit yeah!
