Paul Chapman's future at Essendon in doubt as contract talks break down Paul Chapman's career is at the crossroads again. ESSENDON'S recruitment of Western Bulldogs Brownlow Medal winner Adam Cooney has thrown Paul Chapman's future with the Bombers into a tailspin. Contract negotiations with Chapman have broken down and one of the sticking points is believed to be the money Essendon had to find to satisfy Cooney - significantly more than the $250,000-$300,000 Chapman earned this year. The shock revelation comes after Chapman, 33, played 20 of a possible 22 games and finished ninth in the best-and-fairest in his first year with the Bombers, following 251 games and three premierships at Geelong. He refused to comment last night and directed inquiries to his manager Liam Pickering, who was unavailable. Chapman met separately with returning Essendon coach James Hird and Hird's 2014 stand-in, Mark Thompson, for season-end interviews and is said to have received favourable reviews. If you could choose one player to be at Essendon in 2015, who would you prefer? He began the season in blinding fashion and arguably was Essendon's best player over the last six rounds following a flat spot in the middle of the year. His contract in 2014 included a requirement for him to play a certain number of games, believed to be 18, as a trigger for a deal in 2015, but it is understood Chapman was uncomfortable with that obligation hanging over his head. Paul Chapman could be forced out by the arrival of Adam Cooney. Chapman is said to have a sound relationship with Hird and has expressed a desire to go flat-out right from the start next year rather than attempt to nurse himself through a specified minimum requirement of games. The headstrong Chapman joined Geelong as pick No.31 in the 1999 draft. He won the Carji Greeves Medal as the Cats" best-and-fairest in 2006, the Norm Smith Medal as best-afield in the 2009 Grand Final and was All-Australian twice. He was rated one of the all-time favourite players at the club by Geelong and opposition supporters. The reaction to him has been similar at Essendon, where his leadership and professionalism were valued this year.