Geelong’s Paul Chapman wants to spend more time in the midfield in 2004.

In order to achieve this aim, the 22-year-old is planning on a big pre-season to improve his endurance and avoid running out of steam at the end of the year.

In 2003, Chapman was often found at the bottom of the packs fighting hard for the footy and usually put it to good use by releasing team mates.

He capped off a hard-working season by taking out the Cats’ Best Team and Most Constructive player award at the club’s recent best-and-fairest.

“I think that’s a little bit the way Geelong looks towards me – an in-and-under sort of player,” Chapman said.

He started the year on the ball, but was found to be a reliable goal-sneak as the season progressed, booting 22 goals – an average of one a game.

A ‘pretty happy’ Chapman was keen to build on his achievements and continue to develop his game heading into 2004.

“I like kicking goals (and) I also like playing in the midfield. I’m looking forward to getting fit for next year and playing the whole year on the ball.”

A disappointment shared by everyone at the club was the team’s inability to play at the required level throughout a match, a trait that resulted in many losses when they were well in the contest at three-quarter time.

“If you don’t play four quarters then you don’t deserve to win and this year we haven’t done it.”

“Next year, with a little bit more experience, we’ll be able to take the next step. I think we’ll do it and we’ll start winning those games.”

‘If we can play with 100 per cent of the blokes having a dip, there’s no doubt we’ll go places next year. When we do, we’ll make finals no doubt.”

But one occasion they put it all together was on the last day of the season, Geelong’s band of young players combining together to defeat a similarly youthful St Kilda by 19 points.

Chapman admits there was more than just the desire to finish the season on a high that served as motivation for that match.

“The media had pumped up their young blokes to be the next premiership side and everything like that. To hear that is a little bit frustrating.”

“We’ve had a lot of young blokes down at the football club who are good footballers. I think in that last game we actually showed we can mix it with the best young blokes in the competition.”

“There are a lot of blokes here that are a bit quiet and don’t get much media attention and things like that. But the thing is, as long as they do their job every week, like against St Kilda … we’ll be fine.”