TWO-time premiership coach Jason Lappin will not lead Wangaratta next season.
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Jubilation became tinged with sadness when Lappin shocked players with news of his retirement soon after Saturday’s 11-point win over Corowa-Rutherglen.
Lappin described the decision to step-down as heartbreaking, but necessary.
“It’s been such a fantastic journey so it’s really tough and pretty overwhelming to say goodbye to that,” Lappin said.
“But I’ve got to move on with things in my life. I’ve got a young family — my kids are seven and four — and I’m never going to have this time with them again.”
Lappin had wanted to declare his retirement after the season but the club asked he make it public now.
“I made the decision two weeks ago and we decided to keep it quiet, but it made things hard for the club,” Lappin said.
“They started having a look around but it was too difficult without being able to advertise the position.”
Lappin hopes to play a role in finding his successor and signalled a present player could take the reins.
“I know the club won’t select just anyone, but I want to have input into it,” he said.
“I think I know the right person who would be good for this role.
“Hopefully there’ll be some good interest out there but there could also be the possibility of someone within the group that stands up as well.
“That could be just as good as getting someone external, if not better.”
Wangaratta president Paul Challman said the search was already under way.
“I’m not on the committee that does that but I would have thought we have started canvassing,” Challman said.
“We would have loved for Jason to stay but he’s got a young family and I can understand his decision.”
Lappin, a four-time Wangaratta best and fairest, was appointed to replace Jon Henry as Magpies coach at the end of 2006.
He went on to lead the club to consecutive premierships, with the Magpies in the running for a top-three finish this year.
Lappin hasn’t ruled out returning to coach at Norm Minns Oval in the future.
The Wangaratta job is the first senior coaching position to be vacated this year, with Lavington’s Tim Sanson, North Albury’s Travis Hodgson, Corowa-Rutherglen’s Peter Tossol and Yarrawonga’s Craig Ednie still weighing up their future.
O&M reports — pages 17-21
