RETIRED Brisbane Lions champion Nigel Lappin will make a shock appearance for home club Chiltern against Tallangatta and District Football League rivals Barnawartha next month.
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Lappin, who last played for the Swans in 1993 before being drafted, is free of assistant-coaching duties with Geelong on June 26 and will don the famous No.44 for the final time.
Chiltern president John O’Connell said yesterday the club was thrilled with the coup.
“It’s going to be a huge day and night at the club,” O’Connell said.
“We are just ecstatic to have Nigel back at the club for the day and playing is a massive bonus.
“He will no doubt draw the biggest crowd seen at Chiltern in years and it will be something that everyone at the club and in the town will cherish forever.”
O’Connell said he couldn’t remember a bigger name playing in the TDFL.
“It’s just great for country football in our region, particularly the exposure it will create for the Tallangatta and District Football League and the Chiltern Football Club as well,” he said.
Lappin burst onto the scene with the Swans in the Ovens and King league as a skilful 15-year-old in 1991 and won the club’s best and fairest in 1993 before being drafted to the Brisbane Bears.
He made his debut for the Bears the following season and went on to build an amazing career with the AFL club from 1994 to 2008.
The four-time All Australian played 279 games for the Lions, won three premierships and a club best and fairest award in 2004 under coach Leigh Matthews.
Lappin’s return will coincide with Chiltern’s sportsman’s night that evening with 1992 Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Greg Hall, five-time world champion boxer Lester Ellis and Footscray Team of the Century vice-captain Doug Hawkins also attending.
Tickets can be purchased by contacting Luke Brookes on 0401 809 922.
