Nigel stepped straight from the playing field to the coaching box when he was appointed as assistant coach in October 2008. Less than a year later he could add another premiership to his football CV, this time as an assistant coach with the Cats.

Lappin works closely with the midfield group, and he displays the same talent to teaching the game as he had as a highly decorated player.

Now firmly established in his ‘second career’, Lappin added another premiership to his CV when the Cats captured the 2011 flag.

PLAYING HISTORY

Lappin made his name as one of the AFL's elite midfielders while helping the Brisbane Lions turn into a powerhouse.

Lappin was co-captain of the Lions and won the club's best & fairest in 2004, helping Brisbane past the Cats in the preliminary final that year. He also finished in the top three of Lions voting in 1997, 2000 and 2001 and is a four time All Australian (2001-2004).

Nigel was a catalyst to the Lions hat-trick of premierships (2001-2003), famously showing his courage by playing in the 2003 decider with broken ribs.

Over a career that spanned 15 seasons, Lappin played 279 games, gathered 5,911 possessions and kicked 174 goals.