Starting as a sub in his first senior game since round four after suffering a frustrating hamstring injury, Chapman lit the fuse for the Cats when he entered the game at the three-minute mark of the first quarter after Nathan Vardy left the ground for a concussion assessment.
In just 14 minutes he had nine disposals and kicked a goal, bringing a cheer from the crowd each time he touched the ball.
No wonder he gave his thumbs-up to the substitute concept.
"The sub was something different. I'd never done that before. It was quite enjoyable," Chapman said.
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With Vardy recovered he then returned to the bench, put the lime green vest on again and waited until three quarter time to re-enter the game.
He found that period a bit challenging.
"It's different. I probably warmed up eight or nine times, someone would come off and I'd think, 'Here's my chance' and start warming up," Chapman said.
The coach said the fortuitous way the 2009 Norm Smith medallist's return unfolded was close to perfect in the end.
"[It was] almost ideal in a way," Scott said. "To give him a little bit of a taste, then have a breather and come on and find the footy again was good for him and good for us."
However, his initial impact didn't tempt the coach to keep him going beyond quarter-time or enter the game earlier.
Scott stuck to the plan like a card player.
Chapman was happy with the hit-out and expects to step it up again next week at home against the Brisbane Lions.
"Hopefully next week I can get a full game [and] get that fitness and match conditioning into my legs and body leading into the finals," Chapman said.
The coach agreed that his preference would be to start Chapman as an available player in round 23 rather than as the substitute.
Even accounting for the fact he had played three VFL games in the lead-up, his touch was good from the start.
However, that did not surprise Scott who had full faith Chapman would perform to his usual high standard.
"We would not have played him if we had doubts about how he would be around the ball and what his touch would be like," Scott said.
"In some ways we value our training as much as [VFL form] and he has just been really clean around the ball, really sharp and his kicking skills in the last quarter shone through. We are really optimistic that he is going to play a big part in the footy over the next four or five weeks."
Chapman is excited at the prospect of taking part in another finals series.
"Every year they're hard to get into and when you're in them they're hard to win. No-one's taken that lightly," Chapman said.
"We tell the younger guys how hard it is, (they) just need to knuckle down and do everything right."
His home fans loved to see him back in action as he took another step forward in his return from injury.
"It was good to get cheered, good to get a touch early," Chapman said. "It definitely lifted the boys, not just myself."
With Vardy recovered he then returned to the bench, put the lime green vest on again and waited until three quarter time to re-enter the game.
He found that period a bit challenging.
"It's different. I probably warmed up eight or nine times, someone would come off and I'd think, 'Here's my chance' and start warming up," Chapman said.
The coach said the fortuitous way the 2009 Norm Smith medallist's return unfolded was close to perfect in the end.
"[It was] almost ideal in a way," Scott said. "To give him a little bit of a taste, then have a breather and come on and find the footy again was good for him and good for us."
However, his initial impact didn't tempt the coach to keep him going beyond quarter-time or enter the game earlier.
Scott stuck to the plan like a card player.
Chapman was happy with the hit-out and expects to step it up again next week at home against the Brisbane Lions.
"Hopefully next week I can get a full game [and] get that fitness and match conditioning into my legs and body leading into the finals," Chapman said.
The coach agreed that his preference would be to start Chapman as an available player in round 23 rather than as the substitute.
Even accounting for the fact he had played three VFL games in the lead-up, his touch was good from the start.
However, that did not surprise Scott who had full faith Chapman would perform to his usual high standard.
"We would not have played him if we had doubts about how he would be around the ball and what his touch would be like," Scott said.
"In some ways we value our training as much as [VFL form] and he has just been really clean around the ball, really sharp and his kicking skills in the last quarter shone through. We are really optimistic that he is going to play a big part in the footy over the next four or five weeks."
Chapman is excited at the prospect of taking part in another finals series.
"Every year they're hard to get into and when you're in them they're hard to win. No-one's taken that lightly," Chapman said.
"We tell the younger guys how hard it is, (they) just need to knuckle down and do everything right."
His home fans loved to see him back in action as he took another step forward in his return from injury.
"It was good to get cheered, good to get a touch early," Chapman said. "It definitely lifted the boys, not just myself."
