Fremantle defender Heath Chapman set for AFL return against Western Bulldogs after career cruelled by injury

But that elongated absence will finally come to an end on Saturday night against the Western Bulldogs. And Chapman looms as exactly the sort of player Fremantle needs to get its 2024 season back on track.

An almost forgotten quantity given his 2023 season was ruined by hamstring and shoulder injuries, Chapman played three games last year and he’s managed 26 in total.

Compare that with his 2020 draft class. Number one pick Jamarra Ugle-Hagan played his 50th game a fortnight ago. Sydney key forward Logan McDonald played his 50th last week. His teammate Errol Gulden has played 73. Jake Bowey has played 48 and is a premiership player.

If Chapman’s career had not been so routinely cruelled by injury, there’s every chance we’d rank him in the same echelon.

His 2021 season was undone by an act of courage rarely seen from first year players. Without fear, Chapman ran back with the flight into a marking contest against West Coast and dislocated his shoulder. Optus Stadium was empty that day due to a COVID-19 outbreak. But you could still hear the gasps of Fremantle’s faithful as they echoed around the suburbs of Perth.

In 2022, Chapman played a crucial role in Fremantle’s 8-3 start to the season before suffering a hamstring injury at training before the club’s round 12 clash against Brisbane. He was able to return five weeks later and featured in his maiden AFL finals campaign, racking up 27 touches in Fremantle’s historic elimination final win over the Bulldogs.

Then came 2023. Chapman spent the first three weeks of the season at AFL level before suffering a regulation calf strain against West Coast. He was due to return via Peel Thunder after three weeks on the sidelines then during the final drill of training, he tore his hamstring.

Then, after finally returning late in the season via the WAFL, he dislocated his other shoulder, ending his season in August.

This year was supposed to be a different story. Fremantle’s players and coaches spent the pre-season praising the difference Chapman could make, despite some disagreement over whether that would be down back or on the wing.

Then in early February, it happened again. During a pre-season scratch match, Chapman suffered a moderate hamstring strain.

Such was the Dockers’ desire to see Chapman return to the AFL, Fremantle paid for him to travel to Qatar and visit the renowned Aspetar Sports Medical Clinic.

Finally, a return to football beckoned via the WAFL in round two. And it’s taken the 22-year-old just three games to remind the Dockers what they’ve been missing.

“He brings a great energy to the game in all aspects,” Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir said. “The exciting thing I’ve seen from him at Peel is from the moment he stepped out, back from injury, on limited minutes, he’s played above the level.

“He’s got the ability to win the ball back which is something we need to do a lot more and a lot better.

“He gives us a lot on offence in terms of being able to turn defence into offence in hitting kicks really quickly and driving from contests. It’s been a while since we’ve had him in our AFL team but we hope his injuries are behind him and he can have a really good run at it now.”

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Fremantle has flirted with the idea of playing Chapman in the midfield, not dissimilar to Hayden Young’s successful defensive switch.

But Chapman’s poise and possession will make the best defence in the AFL even better.

Sam Switkowski (concussion) and Michael Frederick (hamstring) are also set to give Fremantle’s flailing forward line a welcome boost. While Andrew Brayshaw was absent from main training on Wednesday and will be managed ahead of Fremantle’s Len Hall Tribute Match as he manages a niggle.