Justin Leppitsch

Justin Leppitsch

Justin Leppitsch in 2005
Personal information
Full nameJustin Leppitsch
Date of birth1 October 1975
Original teamSouthern Stingrays
DraftNo. 4, 1992 National Draft, Brisbane Bears
Height/Weight191 cm / 98 kg
Position(s)Defender
Playing career1
YearsClubGames (Goals)
1993–1996
1997–2006
Total		Brisbane Bears
Brisbane Lions		44 (58)
183 (136)
227 (194)
Coaching career3
YearsClubGames (W–L–D)
2014–Brisbane Lions22 (7-15-0)
1 Playing statistics correct to end of 2006 season.
3 Coaching statistics correct as of 2014.
Career highlights

Justin Leppitsch (born 1 October 1975) is a former professional Australian rules footballer and the current coach of the Brisbane Lions in the Australian Football League.

Early life

Leppitsch was raised in Berwick, Victoria. In 1992, he played in the newly-established VSFL Under-18 competition (later known as the TAC Cup) with Southern Stingrays, where he was runner-up for the Morrish Medal,[1] and caught the attention of Brisbane Bears talent scouts. He was selected by Brisbane at pick 4 in the 1992 AFL Draft.[2]

AFL career

He made his debut in 1993 for the Bears as a 17-year old, but was then dropped back to play for West Brisbane where he hurt his knee and required a complete knee reconstruction. He was unable to play football for 15 months.[3]

His breakout season was in 1999 under new coach Leigh Matthews, when he won the Brisbane Best and Fairest award, was selected as All-Australian for the first time[2] and represented Australia in International Rules.

Under Matthews, Leppitsch became a key component of the Lions spine, playing centre half back in the club's three premiership sides from 2001 to 2003 and earned All-Australian status three times.

Late in his career, Leppitsch battled a chronic hamstring-related back injury which inevitably ended his career due to the resulting calf muscle wastage. He announced his retirement from the AFL on 5 June 2006.[4]

He was inducted into the Brisbane Lions Hall of Fame in 2012.[5]

Coaching career

In October 2006, Leppitsch had accepted a position as an assistant coach with the Brisbane Lions. However, he later signed with Richmond to be an assistant coach in September 2009.[6] In September 2013, Leppitsch signed a three-year contract to be the senior coach of the Brisbane Lions.[7]

Statistics

Playing statistics

[8]
Legend
 G  Goals  B  Behinds  K  Kicks  H  Handballs  D  Disposals  M  Marks  T  Tackles
† Denotes seasons in which Leppitsch won an AFL Premiership
Led the league for the Season only*
Led the league after finals only*
Led the league after Season and Finals*

*10 games required to be eligible.

Season Team # Games G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
Totals Averages (per game)
1993 Brisbane Bears 23 4 4 2 27 12 39 3 5 1.0 0.5 6.8 3.0 9.8 0.8 1.3
1994 Brisbane Bears 23 4 5 4 19 5 24 5 1 1.3 1.0 4.8 1.3 6.0 1.3 0.3
1995 Brisbane Bears 23 17 4 8 96 54 150 48 17 0.2 0.5 5.6 3.2 8.8 2.8 1.0
1996 Brisbane Bears 23 19 45 23 152 49 201 57 18 2.4 1.2 8.0 2.6 10.6 3.0 0.9
1997 Brisbane Lions 23 22 50 38 186 63 249 97 20 2.3 1.7 8.5 2.9 11.3 4.4 0.9
1998 Brisbane Lions 23 16 26 17 145 52 197 64 19 1.6 1.1 9.1 3.3 12.3 4.0 1.2
1999 Brisbane Lions 23 25 14 12 242 86 328 129 30 0.6 0.5 9.7 3.4 13.1 5.2 1.2
2000 Brisbane Lions 23 22 11 12 207 127 334 125 29 0.5 0.5 9.4 5.8 15.2 5.7 1.3
2001† Brisbane Lions 23 11 6 3 69 35 104 43 4 0.5 0.3 6.3 3.2 9.5 3.9 0.4
2002† Brisbane Lions 23 23 12 10 208 82 290 115 32 0.5 0.4 9.0 3.6 12.6 5.0 1.4
2003† Brisbane Lions 23 22 10 3 193 105 298 126 32 0.5 0.1 8.8 4.8 13.5 5.7 1.5
2004 Brisbane Lions 23 24 6 2 173 110 283 108 40 0.3 0.1 7.2 4.6 11.8 4.5 1.7
2005 Brisbane Lions 23 14 0 0 144 80 224 80 29 0.0 0.0 10.3 5.7 16.0 5.7 2.1
2006 Brisbane Lions 23 4 1 0 32 19 51 20 2 0.3 0.0 8.0 4.8 12.8 5.0 0.5
Career 227 194 134 1893 879 2772 1020 278 0.9 0.6 8.3 3.9 12.2 4.5 1.2

Coaching statistics

[9]
† Denotes seasons in which Leppitsch won an AFL Premiership
Season Team Games Coached Wins Losses Draws Points % Ladder Position League Teams
2014 Brisbane Lions 22 7 15 0 31.8% 15 18
Career totals 22 7 15 0 31.82% 15 18

* = Unfinished season

References

  1. ↑ Ashley Browne (2 September 1992). "Northern back takes Morrish". The Age (Melbourne, VIC). p. 28.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Walls, Robert (10 July 2004). "Milestones for greats". The Age.
  3. ↑ Voss, Michael (11 June 2006). "Competitive fire burned deep in Leppa". The Sunday Age.
  4. ↑ Stafford, Andrew (6 June 2006). "Leppitsch calls it a day as injuries take their toll". The Age.
  5. ↑ Hall of Fame – Justin Leppitsch
  6. ↑ Hogan, Jesse (18 September 2009). "Tigers snare Leppitsch, Lade". BrisbaneTimes.com.au. Retrieved 24 September 2013.
  7. ↑ Lions confirm Leppitsch to replace Voss
  8. ↑ Justin Leppitsch's player profile at AFL Tables
  9. ↑ Justin Leppitsch's coaching profile at AFL Tables

External links

Awards
Preceded by
Chris Scott		 Brisbane Lions Best and Fairest winner (tied)
1999 		Succeeded by
Michael Voss