Australian Football

Darren Kappler was a dashing, talented, long kicking wingman who gave fine service to four league clubs during a 17-season, 269 game senior career. Along with older brother David, he joined South Adelaide from Morphett Vale, and made his SANFL debut in 1982. Over the next five seasons he played a total of 82 league games and was a consistently conspicuous performer in a team that almost invariably struggled. 

In 1987 he joined another regular under-achiever in Fitzroy, where he played probably the best football of his career, winning a club best and fairest award in 1988, and managing 87 V/AFL games in five seasons. A four-season stint at Sydney followed, where he continued to produce consistently good football in 59 games before, anxious to return to Melbourne for personal reasons, he secured a transfer to Hawthorn in 1996. Kappler's final three seasons in the AFL produced 41 senior appearances, but were undermined to some extent by the persistent hamstring and calf injuries that eventually forced his retirement. Nevertheless, when fit he was still a damaging and productive player.

Author - John Devaney