Three-time premiership winner Nigel Lappin today announced his retirement from AFL football.
The Brisbane Lions co-captain was off-contract at the end of the year.
"Lappin informed his team-mates of his decision to hang up the boots on Tuesday morning before fronting a packed media conference at the Gabba," the Lions said in a statement today.
"The quiet and humble veteran has been sidelined since round five of this year with a persistent Achilles injury which has effectively ended his final season at the club.
"The Lions' historic round four comeback against Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium will remain as Lappin's final match of his illustrious career."
Lappin, a 279-match veteran, was a vital part of the midfield machine that drove the Lions to three consecutive premierships from 2001.
He was named the Lions' best and fairest in 2004, and earned four All-Australian selections.
"I was really desperate to play again, I just wanted some closure on my career and not to finish on the sidelines," Lappin told News Limited.
"But I've known all year it was time to retire, my wife and I have spoken about it at length.
"I have always put pressure on myself to perform and I got to the stage even before my injury that I was getting to game day and just not feeling the same intense motivation to get out there and play."
His final years have been dogged by injury, beginning in 2005 when he broke his leg and dislocated an ankle in a horrific incident in a loss to Sydney.
He then missed the entire 2006 season to recover from an ankle reconstruction after he aggravated the injury in a pre-season match.
Lappin returned to form in 2007, only to be dogged by the Achilles injury this year.
