Matthew Lappin

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Matthew Lappin
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Personal information
Birth February 17, 1976 (1976-02-17) (age 32),
Recruited from Chiltern, Victoria
Height and 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 (1999-2007)

196 Games, 221 Goals
¹ Statistics to end of 2007 season
Career highlights

Matthew Lappin (born February 17, 1976) was 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 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.

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. 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 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 move primarily back into the forward line in 2007 with reasonable success. Following an injury, Lappin retired shortly before Carlton's final game of 2007, four games short of his 200th club game. He will act as playing assistant coach with the Northern Bullants in 2008.

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