TonyK
CibbuanoLappin calls it quits
August 19th 2008 04:20
BRISBANE midfielder Nigel Lappin has called it quits following an ongoing achilles injury which has sidelined him since round four this season.
He will be given a farewell lap of honour before the club's round 21 home game against Carlton on Saturday night.
Lappin said he was frustrated at the way his career has ended.
"It's hard not to live in the moment, and for me at the moment I haven't been able to get what I want out of footy," Lappin said.
"So at the moment I'm sort of frustrated, I have been frustrated by what has happened this year.
"But my career as a whole has been really successful."
The latter stages of his career have been ruined by injury with the 32-year-old playing just 38 of the Lions' 86 games since the 2004 grand final loss to Port Adelaide. He first dislocated an ankle in 2005 and re-injured it before the start of the following year, which caused him to miss all of 2006.
Lappin admitted his bad run with injuries had taken its toll.
"Mentally I was a little bit tired," he said.
"I was waking up and not really looking forward to playing footy as I had in previous years, and you just get the feeling it is time."
He also said he would remain a part of the Lions squad until the end of the season before taking a few months off to contemplate his future.
Lappin made his debut with the Brisbane Bears in 1994 and was an integral member of the Lions' premiership sides between 2001 and 2003, making up one-quarter of the side's "Fab four" midfield.
The 279-game veteran, who leaves as the club's third-longest serving player enjoyed a decorated career that also included a best-and-fairest (2004), four All-Australian guernseys (2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004), International Rules representation (2001) and the Lions' best finals player award (2001).
He will be given a farewell lap of honour before the club's round 21 home game against Carlton on Saturday night.
Lappin said he was frustrated at the way his career has ended.
"It's hard not to live in the moment, and for me at the moment I haven't been able to get what I want out of footy," Lappin said.
"So at the moment I'm sort of frustrated, I have been frustrated by what has happened this year.
"But my career as a whole has been really successful."
The latter stages of his career have been ruined by injury with the 32-year-old playing just 38 of the Lions' 86 games since the 2004 grand final loss to Port Adelaide. He first dislocated an ankle in 2005 and re-injured it before the start of the following year, which caused him to miss all of 2006.
Lappin admitted his bad run with injuries had taken its toll.
"Mentally I was a little bit tired," he said.
"I was waking up and not really looking forward to playing footy as I had in previous years, and you just get the feeling it is time."
He also said he would remain a part of the Lions squad until the end of the season before taking a few months off to contemplate his future.
Lappin made his debut with the Brisbane Bears in 1994 and was an integral member of the Lions' premiership sides between 2001 and 2003, making up one-quarter of the side's "Fab four" midfield.
The 279-game veteran, who leaves as the club's third-longest serving player enjoyed a decorated career that also included a best-and-fairest (2004), four All-Australian guernseys (2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004), International Rules representation (2001) and the Lions' best finals player award (2001).
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