AFTER watching many of his former Richmond teammates play in a premiership, former Tiger and now Melbourne assistant coach Troy Chaplin wants nothing more than his red and blue charges to taste the ultimate success.   

Chaplin, who played 215 AFL matches from 2004-16, in a fine career with Port Adelaide and Richmond, played in the Power’s 2007 Grand Final, but retired during the 2016 season, missing out on Richmond’s 2017 flag.  

Still, he watched on in awe as several of his close mates played in the yellow and black’s drought-breaking win over the Adelaide Crows – Richmond’s first premiership since 1980.

Chaplin said watching it at the MCG was a moment he’ll never forget and something he has passed on to several at Melbourne.

“I had a conversation with Clayton Oliver about it after the Grand Final,” he told melbournefc.com.au on the opening day of the club’s training camp on the Sunshine Coast.

“I said to him that I wanted him to achieve what the Richmond guys did and I really implored that with him.

“I just want to see ‘Clarry’ and so many of our players do what they (Richmond) did – I really mean it. It was such a special day.”

Now working with the backline group, Chaplin said he had relished returning to familiar territory, even though he gained plenty from working offensively in his first coaching season with Melbourne in 2017.

“I enjoyed last year with the offensive side of things. It was something new to me and looking after the forwards as well,” he said.

“This year, I get to look after one line group, so you get to hone in a little bit more and spend a lot more time with them.

“I’ve been doing some weights with them and some cross-training, and you get to build some relationships with the boys that you mightn’t have normally had last year. I’m really enjoying being a bit more hands on this year.”

Chaplin said he also felt more comfortable in his second year of coaching.

“Last year, there was a little bit of an unknown,” he said.

“You get shoved straight into it and you’re not sure what to expect, but this year you get a bit better of an understanding of how it works.

“I’ve really enjoyed it and I’m really enjoying working with the backline guys this year. We’ve got some new coaches and have changed a few things and it’s been really good so far.”