Having played all 22 home and away games in 2003, he feels he's ready to take his game to the next level.
Like teammates Matthew McCarthy and Shannon Byrnes, Chapman underwent shoulder surgery in the off-season - where his bicep tendon was re-attached to his shoulder - and is undergoing a modified program.
Once he's into full-scale training, Chapman believes an improvement in the endurance department will allow him to play a more prominent role in the midfield next season - which is the key to the Cats' fortunes.
``I did play a little in the middle but not as much as I wanted to, it's good kicking goals but I just love being around the ball all the time so this year I'm going to have to get fitter again and put it to them that I'm a midfielder and not just a forward,'' Chapman said.
``It's more so my fitness that's stopped me, but we've got some good young players like Lingy, Gaz when he goes in there and Joel Corey - I'm sure I'm right up with them but I suppose my fitness needs to improve.
``We'll be better, we improved in the midfield from the year before and we'll improve again no doubt, we've just got to get fitter because I think we go pretty hard at the ball for our age, we've just got to be able to get through the four quarters.''
Chapman was Geelong's fifth selection in the 1999 national draft at pick 31.
It was the same year the Cats drafted Joel Corey (8), David Spriggs (15), Daniel Foster (23), Cameron Ling (38) and Corey Enright (37).
He said it's those sorts of players, who are hitting the 50-game mark, that will step up and lead the Cats to finals success.
``Our aim this year is top eight, I'm expecting top eight and I think everyone else would be too, we just want to play finals footy and you've got to start somewhere to improve,'' he said.
``Blokes who got drafted my year, 1999, we've all played 50 games this year so we'll be coming on even more.
``I think Jimmy Bartel will too fire this year, Matty McCarthy started to play well at the end of last year and he'll keep coming and Daniel Foster will have a good year because he was a bit deprived of opportunities last year.''
Yesterday also saw young Falcons ruckman Mark Blake join the group for the first time this pre-season, with the Cats to draft him under the father-son rule.
