Nigel Lappin

Nigel Lappin (born 21 June 1976) is a former professional Australian rules footballer. Lappin is currently serving as an assistant coach with the Geelong Football Club.[1]

Nigel Lappin
Personal information
Full name Nigel Lappin
Date of birth (1976-06-21) 21 June 1976
Place of birth Corowa, New South Wales
Original team(s) Chiltern (T&DFL)
Draft No. 2, 1993 National Draft, Brisbane Bears
Height 188 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Weight 87 kg (192 lb)
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1994–1996 Brisbane Bears 061 0(40)
1997–2008 Brisbane Lions 218 (134)
Total 279 (174)
Representative team honours
Years Team Games (Goals)
Victoria
International team honours
2001 Australia 2
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2008.
Career highlights
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Playing career

Lappin was born in the locally based regional hospital at Corowa, New South Wales and grew up in Chiltern, Victoria. He was drafted to play for the Brisbane Bears in the Australian Football League in 1993, playing his first AFL game the following year. In 1997 he was a member of the inaugural Brisbane Lions team following the Bears merger with Fitzroy.

A long, accurate kick, capable of running as a play maker throughout the whole match, he was recognised as a member of the group of players known as the "Fab Four",[2] a group of highly skilled midfield players considered to be one of the major driving forces behind the Lions successive Australian Football League premierships in 2001, 2002 and 2003. An example of his courage was the 2003 Grand Final win, in which he played the whole match with a broken rib.

Lappin represented Australia in International Rules in 2001.

In 2004 he achieved a personal milestone in winning his first Merrett-Murray Medal. However his 2005 season ended prematurely when he broke his right ankle late in the season. Weeks into his comeback, the ankle was re-injured in a 2006 pre-season practice match, forcing him to miss the entire 2006 season.

Following the retirement of longtime captain Michael Voss at the end of 2006, Lappin was appointed co-captain of the club alongside Simon Black, Luke Power, Jonathan Brown, and Chris Johnson on 20 March 2007.

His cousin Matthew Lappin also played AFL football for Carlton and St. Kilda.

Retirement

On 19 August 2008, Nigel Lappin announced his retirement from professional football. After only being able to play 4 games in the 2008 season due to an Achilles tendon problem, Nigel decided it was time to draw a close on his career. "I'm really disappointed this season hasn't worked out for me," Lappin said at a Gabba press conference. "Every footballer wants the fairytale ending. It's hard to walk away from something that's been a really big part of your life, but I've got a family that will care for me."[3]

In October 2008, Lappin joined the Geelong Football Club as an assistant coach.[4] In 2016 he was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame.

Statistics
[5]
Legend
 G  Goals  B  Behinds  K  Kicks  H  Handballs  D  Disposals  M  Marks  T  Tackles
Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game)
G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
1994 Brisbane Bears 4417831158219737110.50.26.84.811.62.20.6
1995 Brisbane Bears 441917181798025956140.90.99.44.213.62.90.7
1996 Brisbane Bears 44251515376126502118160.60.615.05.020.14.70.6
1997 Brisbane Lions 44211014281119400107170.50.713.45.719.05.10.8
1998 Brisbane Lions 4420151226913039996150.80.613.56.520.04.80.8
1999 Brisbane Lions 44252323281185466109290.90.911.27.418.64.41.2
2000 Brisbane Lions 44241612337179516107330.70.514.07.521.54.51.4
2001 Brisbane Lions 44252619383232615157501.00.815.39.324.66.32.0
2002 Brisbane Lions 441871227516744292740.40.715.39.324.65.14.1
2003 Brisbane Lions 4422815371191562124700.40.716.98.725.55.63.2
2004 Brisbane Lions 442517173792516301151210.70.715.210.025.24.64.8
2005 Brisbane Lions 44168522014736776490.50.313.89.222.94.83.1
2006 Brisbane Lions 440——————————————
2007 Brisbane Lions 44184625722548285750.20.314.312.526.84.74.2
2008 Brisbane Lions 4440235397414220.00.58.89.818.53.55.5
Career 279 174 173 3758 2153 5911 1293 596 0.6 0.6 13.5 7.7 21.2 4.6 2.1

Career highlights

Teal Cup

  • Victorian & All-Australian U15 Schoolboys 1991
  • Victorian Country & All-Australian Teal Cup (U17) 1993
  • Winner Chiltern Best & Fairest 1993

Brisbane Bears/Lions

  • Best & Fairest 2004
  • Victorian State of Origin 1996, 1997, 1999
  • First Brisbane-based AFL player to win Victorian State of Origin Selection
  • Member Bears First Finals Side 1995
  • Member Lions First Finals Side 1997
  • Ansett Cup Grand Final Side 2001
  • Brisbane Lions captain 2007
  • Australian Asthma Sportsman of the Year 1998
  • All-Australian 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004
  • International Rules 2001,
  • Premiership Player 2001, 2002, 2003

References
  1. "Coaches presented by Momentum Energy". geelongcats.com.au. Geelong Football Club. Archived from the original on 22 March 2019. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  2. Michael Voss says Carlton Fab Four has way to go to match Brisbane greats
  3. "Nigel Lappin calls it quits". AFL website. 19 August 2008. Archived from the original on 20 August 2008. Retrieved 19 August 2008.
  4. "Nigel joins Cats' coaching ranks". ABC News website. 15 October 2008. Retrieved 15 October 2008.
  5. Nigel Lappin's player profile at AFL Tables
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