Darren Kappler
Fitzroy, Sydney and Hawthorn
AFL career
187 games152 goals
- Debut
- R1 1987 v MEL28 Mar 1987
- Most recent
- R17 1998 v PAD25 July 1998
Stats
1998 | HAW | 11 | 11.0 | 3.1 | 14.1 | 2.3 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 1.6 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 54 |
1997 | HAW | 11 | 9.5 | 3.7 | 13.2 | 2.4 | 0.6 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 48 |
1996 | HAW | 19 | 11.3 | 3.0 | 14.3 | 3.4 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 57 |
1995 | SYD | 19 | 11.7 | 4.2 | 15.9 | 3.0 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.9 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 63 |
1994 | SYD | 19 | 12.2 | 5.0 | 17.2 | 2.8 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 1.1 | 1.3 | 1.1 | 67 |
1993 | SYD | 5 | 14.0 | 6.8 | 20.8 | 2.6 | 1.0 | 1.4 | 2.0 | 1.4 | 1.6 | 78 |
1992 | SYD | 16 | 13.8 | 3.7 | 17.4 | 2.3 | 0.9 | 0.8 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 69 |
1991 | FIT | 13 | 16.9 | 4.8 | 21.8 | 3.9 | 0.8 | 1.5 | 1.3 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 81 |
1990 | FIT | 12 | 15.0 | 3.4 | 18.4 | 2.8 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 1.6 | 0.4 | 1.0 | 67 |
1989 | FIT | 19 | 13.6 | 3.3 | 16.9 | 2.6 | 1.5 | 1.4 | 1.7 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 63 |
1988 | FIT | 22 | 16.4 | 5.0 | 21.5 | 3.5 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 78 |
1987 | FIT | 21 | 10.7 | 5.7 | 16.3 | 2.8 | 1.2 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 61 |
Bio
Recruited from South Adelaide in the SANFL, Darren Kappler arrived at Fitzroy with a reputation for blistering speed, having won the prestigious Bay Sheffield sprint in 1985. He immediately translated that pace to the VFL, establishing himself as a damaging wingman who could break lines and drive the ball deep with a booming left-foot kick. His most significant individual accolade came early in his career when he won the Mitchell Medal as Fitzroy's Best and Fairest in 1988 at just 21 years of age, standing out in a team full of talented youngsters.
After five seasons and 87 games with the Lions, Kappler moved north to the Sydney Swans, where he spent four years adding experience to a developing list. He finished his career as a veteran recruit for Hawthorn, joining the club at age 31. Despite his age, he remained a useful asset for the Hawks, often using his precision kicking to hit up leading forwards like Jason Dunstall. A true journeyman who played nearly 200 games across three clubs, Kappler is remembered as a classic outside runner whose longevity was underpinned by his natural fitness and elite kicking skills.
Profile
- Born
- 23 Jan 1965 (age 61y 271d)
- Height
- 183 cm
- Weight
- 80 kg
Teams
Honours
- Fitzroy B&F1988
- Brownlow Medal
- Top 10
- 1988
Bio
1 revisionRecruited from South Adelaide in the SANFL, Darren Kappler arrived at Fitzroy with a reputation for blistering speed, having won the prestigious Bay Sheffield sprint in 1985. He immediately translated that pace to the VFL, establishing himself as a damaging wingman who could break lines and drive the ball deep with a booming left-foot kick. His most significant individual accolade came early in his career when he won the Mitchell Medal as Fitzroy's Best and Fairest in 1988 at just 21 years of age, standing out in a team full of talented youngsters.
After five seasons and 87 games with the Lions, Kappler moved north to the Sydney Swans, where he spent four years adding experience to a developing list. He finished his career as a veteran recruit for Hawthorn, joining the club at age 31. Despite his age, he remained a useful asset for the Hawks, often using his precision kicking to hit up leading forwards like Jason Dunstall. A true journeyman who played nearly 200 games across three clubs, Kappler is remembered as a classic outside runner whose longevity was underpinned by his natural fitness and elite kicking skills.