Darren Kappler
Darren Kappler is a former professional Australian rules footballer.
Recruited from South [Australian National Football League] club South Adelaide, Kappler played 187 games for Fitzroy, the Sydney Swans and Hawthorn in the Australian Football League. During his AFL career, Kappler built a reputation as a talented and damaging long kicking left footed wingman. He was also a highly regarded sprinter in South Australia, notably winning the prestigious Bay Sheffield 120-metre sprint at Glenelg in 1985.
After retiring from AFL football, Kappler served as playing coach at the Murrumbeena Football Club in the Southern [Football League (Victoria)|Southern Football League] for several seasons before switching first to Victorian [Amateur Football Association] club Canterbury and then Caulfield Football Club.
In 1999 Kappler spent one season with the Glenorchy Football Club in the now defunct Tasmanian Football League. Glenorchy won the Premiership, their first since 1988. The side was coached by former Essendon player Paul [Hamilton (Australian footballer)|Paul Hamilton], assisted by current Dodges Ferry coach Danny Ling. Kappler flew in, and flew out of Tasmania, never training with the club.
Kappler's brother David Kappler played over 200 games for South Adelaide.