Matthew Lappin
Encyclopedia
Matthew Lappin is a retired Australian rules football
er in the Australian Football League
(AFL). He was an assistant coach with the Carlton Football Club
from 2007–2010, deciding not to renew his contract for 2011.
Debuting with the St Kilda Football Club in 1994, Lappin was known as a solid running half-back flanker.
Lappin played in 17 of 22 matches in the 1997 AFL Premiership Season home and away rounds in which St Kilda Football Club qualified in first position for the 1997 AFL Finals Series, winning the club’s 2nd Minor Premiership and 1st McClelland Trophy
.
At the end of the 1998 season, after five seasons with the Saints (including the 1997 Grand Final
), he moved to Carlton. He made an immediate impression: in the first quarter of the club's Round 1 match against , he took a specky
on the goal-line which would go on to win the Mark of the Year
for 1999.
At Carlton, Lappin established himself in a variety of roles. Initially he played as a goalsneak, but shifted into a sweeping half-back, or linkman role, providing much of Carlton's rebound football as they rebuilt their backline in the early-mid 2000s; he would also rotate sparingly through the midfield.
In 2004 he won All-Australian selection and was consistently among Carlton's best players, but in 2005 he did not have a great year for the Blues, which led to him considering walking out on the club. His form continued to slide in 2006, and after a particularly poor game against the Western Bulldogs
coloured by some soft efforts, Lappin was dropped to Carlton's , the Northern Bullants
. He played two games there and improved his intensity; he averaged 29 disposals and 3.5 tackles in the four games after his return. Lappin moved primarily back into the forward line in 2007 with reasonable success. Following an injury, Lappin announced his retirement shortly before Carlton's final game of 2007, four games short of playing 200 games for the club.
Throughout his playing career, Lappin was easily recognised on the field with his lightly built frame, for which he attracted the nickname "Skinny". He was a great mark, regularly outmarking players much bigger than him. Lappin also represented Australia in the International Rules series in three seasons, and was noted for kicking the round ball better than most of his teammates.
Following his retirement from playing, Lappin remained with the Carlton Football Club as an assistant coach, as well as acting as a playing assistant coach with the Northern Bullants
(as a VFL-listed player). He served as Carlton's forward line coach from 2008 until 2010. In 2011, he shifted into an assistant coaching role at Collingwood
.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er in the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
(AFL). He was an assistant coach with the Carlton Football Club
Carlton Football Club
The Carlton Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club competes in the Australian Football League, and was one of the eight founding members of that competition in 1897...
from 2007–2010, deciding not to renew his contract for 2011.
Debuting with the St Kilda Football Club in 1994, Lappin was known as a solid running half-back flanker.
Lappin played in 17 of 22 matches in the 1997 AFL Premiership Season home and away rounds in which St Kilda Football Club qualified in first position for the 1997 AFL Finals Series, winning the club’s 2nd Minor Premiership and 1st McClelland Trophy
1997 AFL season
Results and statistics for the Australian Football League season of 1997.The Port Adelaide Power joined the competition.The Brisbane Lions also joined the competition after the merger of the and ....
.
At the end of the 1998 season, after five seasons with the Saints (including the 1997 Grand Final
AFL Grand Final
The AFL Grand Final is an annual Australian rules football match, traditionally held on the final Saturday in September at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, Australia to determine the Australian Football League premiership champions for that year...
), he moved to Carlton. He made an immediate impression: in the first quarter of the club's Round 1 match against , he took a specky
Specky
A spectacular mark is a term for a type of mark in Australian rules football...
on the goal-line which would go on to win the Mark of the Year
Mark of the Year
The annual Mark of the Year competition is a sporting award that celebrates each season's best mark...
for 1999.
At Carlton, Lappin established himself in a variety of roles. Initially he played as a goalsneak, but shifted into a sweeping half-back, or linkman role, providing much of Carlton's rebound football as they rebuilt their backline in the early-mid 2000s; he would also rotate sparingly through the midfield.
In 2004 he won All-Australian selection and was consistently among Carlton's best players, but in 2005 he did not have a great year for the Blues, which led to him considering walking out on the club. His form continued to slide in 2006, and after a particularly poor game against the Western Bulldogs
Western Bulldogs
The Western Bulldogs are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based at the Whitten Oval in West Footscray, an inner-western suburb of Melbourne...
coloured by some soft efforts, Lappin was dropped to Carlton's , the Northern Bullants
Northern Bullants
Northern Blues Football Club is a long-established Australian rules football club based in Preston and currently playing in the Victorian Football League representing the central and outer areas of Melbourne...
. He played two games there and improved his intensity; he averaged 29 disposals and 3.5 tackles in the four games after his return. Lappin moved primarily back into the forward line in 2007 with reasonable success. Following an injury, Lappin announced his retirement shortly before Carlton's final game of 2007, four games short of playing 200 games for the club.
Throughout his playing career, Lappin was easily recognised on the field with his lightly built frame, for which he attracted the nickname "Skinny". He was a great mark, regularly outmarking players much bigger than him. Lappin also represented Australia in the International Rules series in three seasons, and was noted for kicking the round ball better than most of his teammates.
Following his retirement from playing, Lappin remained with the Carlton Football Club as an assistant coach, as well as acting as a playing assistant coach with the Northern Bullants
Northern Bullants
Northern Blues Football Club is a long-established Australian rules football club based in Preston and currently playing in the Victorian Football League representing the central and outer areas of Melbourne...
(as a VFL-listed player). He served as Carlton's forward line coach from 2008 until 2010. In 2011, he shifted into an assistant coaching role at Collingwood
Collingwood Football Club
The Collingwood Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
.