Plapp caught the attention of AFL clubs after kicking 98 goals with the Burnie Dockers in 1996, which was the most by a player in the TFL Statewide League that year.

[1] He started his senior AFL career in 1998 with two good performances at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, three goals on debut against Fremantle and five more in a win over Carlton the following weekend.

He was appointed captain-coach of the Burnie Dockers in 2008 and continued on into the first season of the revamped Tasmanian State League competition in 2009.

After leading his Burnie team to second position after the roster season, the Dockers were to crash out in straights sets in the finals.

Plapp quit his post soon after due to a dispute with the Burnie board of directors and returned to Victoria.