Matthew Lappin
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| Personal Info | |
|---|---|
| Birth | February 17, 1976, |
| Recruited from | Chiltern, Victoria |
| Height/Weight | 182cm / 77kg |
| Playing Career¹ | |
| Debut | Round 12, June 11, 1994, St Kilda vs. Geelong, at Kardinia Park |
| Team(s) | St Kilda (1994-1998)
55 Games, 26 Goals Carlton (1999-) 178 Games, 200 Goals |
| ¹ Statistics to end of 2006 season | |
| Career Highlights | |
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Matthew Lappin (born February 17, 1976) is an Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League (AFL).
Debuting with the St Kilda Football Club in 1994, Lappin was known as a solid running half-back flanker. After five seasons with the Saints (including the 1997 Grand Final), he moved to Carlton where he established himself in a variety of roles - initially as a goalsneak, but more recently as a sweeping half-back, or linkman, rotated sometimes through the midfield.
Matthew Lappin is easily recognised on the field with his lightly built frame, for which he has attracted the nickname "Skinny," and well-cut long hair. He is a great mark, regularly outmarking players much bigger than him such as Fraser Gehrig and Barry Hall.
Lappin took the Mark of the Year in 1999, with a specky on the goal-line in Carlton's round one game against [[Essendon]. He has represented Australia in the International Rules series in three seasons, and is noted for kicking the round ball better than most of his teammates.
In 2004 he won All-Australian selection and was consistently among Carlton's best players, but in 2005 he didn't have a great year for the Blues, which led to him considering walking out on the club. In 2006, after a particularly poor game against the Western Bulldogs coloured by some soft efforts, Lappin was dropped to the Northern Bullants, playing two games there and improving his intensity. He averaged 29 disposals and 3.5 tackles in the four games after his return.
