Chapple keen to kick on at Crocs
PORT Douglas captain Kye Chapple has chosen lifestyle over money and committed to the club for a fifth season.
The gun forward has led the Crocs to three-straight premierships since arriving from Horsham in 2015 and his signature is a huge boost to the club’s summer recruiting drive.
He knocked back several lucrative offers from country Victorian clubs to remain in Port Douglas.
The laid-back 26-year-old said living in the tropics was “hard to beat”.
“I’ve been up here for a few years now and I’m still really enjoying it,” he said.
“The weather is awesome, there’s so much fishing, hunting and outdoor things to do and I couldn’t really see myself going home. In a way it’s like my home club now, so I’m happy to go around again.”
Chapple’s time in Port Douglas has been littered with accolades.
The Douglas Shire Council worker has been a goalscoring machine with 474 goals in four years, winning the league goal award every year with hauls of 121, 128, 112 and 113.
He will forever be remembered for his seven-goal masterclass in the 2016 grand final win over South Cairns, netting him the Howard Kennedy Medal for best-on-ground. The sharpshooter has played for Gold Coast Suns’ NEAFL team and is a three-time North Queensland representative.