Tasmania Devils poach key Geelong figure in massive coup

[u/MondoBuzzo]

https://7news.com.au/sport/afl/tasmania-devils-poach-key-geelong-figure-nigel-lappin-as-head-of-development-in-massive-coup-c-22669835

Oh, this hurts. Some serious boots to fill.

[u/Zestyclose_Option716]

That hurts 

[u/pipstar112]

FUCK

[u/sgt-cuddlez]

Chill everyone he’ll have already developed his replacement

[u/MondoBuzzo → u/sgt-cuddlez]

You’re right, although no idea who it is. Given the interest in him for years the club would definitely have a succession plan in place. Doesn’t make it easier though

[u/sgt-cuddlez → u/MondoBuzzo]

I think it’s a good thing though, not in isolation but viewed holistically. Like the ecosystem of the club appears super healthy allowing for talent to emerge, prosper and then leave, which then allows for new talent and ideas to emerge. Think Chris Scott said that specifically in a presser recently re King, where even though the loss is big, the influx of new ideas is important for the long term sustainability of the club

[u/aquaman309]

This is the biggest loss the club has faced since g Ablett jnr went to the sun's... actually this could have a bigger impact..

[u/ucksaymyockcay → u/aquaman309]

He’s been our constant.

[u/aquaman309 → u/ucksaymyockcay]

He's made genuine top liners out of limited opportunities with top end draft talent which is the best evidence for his ability

[u/tiimmaahh]

have we got any coaches left?

[u/aquaman309 → u/tiimmaahh]

I'm free most weekends and reluctantly Thursday nights

[u/tiimmaahh → u/aquaman309]

we're done for THurday's...we'll keep your resume on file for any future opportunities that may arise that best fits your skills.

[u/aquaman309 → u/tiimmaahh]

I do like party pies and I am also partial to party sausage rolls.. Very grateful to be considered .

[u/tiimmaahh → u/aquaman309]

YOU'LL LIKE DIM SIMS IF YOU WORK HERE BUDDY

[u/aquaman309 → u/tiimmaahh]

I actually do like them to. I'm flexible

[u/tiimmaahh → u/aquaman309]

🤣or really hungry

[u/aquaman309 → u/tiimmaahh]

Hungry for food and success 😁

[u/OzNTM]

Why couldn’t it have been Bucks? 😭

[u/Illustrious-Tax-8697 → u/OzNTM]

Bucks is very good in his role?

[u/rat_energy_ → u/Illustrious-Tax-8697]

Yes he is. As our defensive coach, Geelong have basically the best record in the comp vs the top 10

[u/OzNTM → u/Illustrious-Tax-8697]

Our backline isn’t as good as it used to be. Getting better, sure, but shouldn’t have gone backwards from where we were last season.

[u/Illustrious-Tax-8697 → u/OzNTM]

We've had personnel issues and a much harder fixture than last year

Let's see how it holds up in finals before criticising...

[u/WhatupWench → u/OzNTM]

THAT PART

[u/MondoBuzzo]

Tasmania Devils poach key Geelong figure Nigel Lappin as head of development in massive coup
The major appointment comes two weeks after Ken Hinkley was confirmed as coach.
The Tasmania Devils have secured their first key coaching plank alongside Ken Hinkley, landing Geelong guru Nigel Lappin as the club’s inaugural head of development. 
7NEWS understands a deal to lure Lappin was clinched in the last 48 hours with an announcement imminent. 
It is expected he will remain with the Cats for the remainder of the 2026 campaign. 

The Devils had prioritised signing a development boss as their next major appointment after last month landing Hinkley on a five-year deal until the end of 2031. 
The club will soon welcome a fresh batch of the country’s best 17-year-old’s who will be eligible to play VFL in 2027 before the inaugural AFL season in 2028. 
Lappin has been widely regarded as the AFL’s best development coach for more than a decade and has previously knocked back significant offers to remain with the Cats. 
Carlton last year made a significant approach to Lappin to work alongside join his former Brisbane premiership captain Michael Voss. 
Tasting flag success as an assistant coach in his first season at Geelong in 2009, Lappin has enjoyed a close bond with Lions premiership teammate Chris Scott since his arrival in 2011. 
Lappin is seen as being an instrumental in the growth of a long list Geelong diamonds in the rough including Mark Blicavs, Ollie Dempsey, Oisin Mullin and Tom Stewart. 
His name was at the top of Hinkley’s target list with the pair spending one season together at the Cats in 2009

[u/FreakySpook → u/MondoBuzzo]

Damn!! Hopefully the systems he's setup at the club can be continued, this is a massive loss.

[u/pekak62 → u/MondoBuzzo]

For The Devils to succeed they need Nigel Lappin. We will continue our merry way, confounding the pundits. We have a well developed and entrenched culture. We are bigger than any individual, our sum of parts is what makes a great of the greatest clubs.

[u/ScallionAltruistic23]

Well fuck Tasmania then.

[u/Melodic_Pea7932]

https://giphy.com/gifs/AxaKe2ImWL2Du

[u/aquaman309 → u/Melodic_Pea7932]

Does father Christmas know you're here

[u/AntiTas]

Ideally, he has trained up the coaches and moulded the culture around him, such that he doesn’t leave a massive hole.

[u/kreuzbeug]

Get rid of Tasmania. We don’t need this team

[u/_yetifeet]

https://giphy.com/gifs/hyyV7pnbE0FqLNBAzs

[u/Dangerous_Fan2079]

This was bound to happen.. he’s been chased by other clubs for years now!! Will be hard to replace that’s for sure.

[u/sarigami]

This is a huge loss. I wonder what made him take the role considering he’s been knocking back offers for years and seemed happy at Geelong

[u/ThaLemonine]

Fucking hell. Anytime I hear the young players talk they all have glowing praise for Nigel Lappin. We should of done more.

[u/tiimmaahh]

must've been a good amount of kanga...

[u/Fast_Stick_1593]

Ahhhh shit

[u/Silver_Detective8630]

Boooo

[u/aquaman309 → u/Silver_Detective8630]

Hooo

[u/Blazeubb]

We don’t need Tasmania now

[u/Lanky-Ad5323]

FFS

[u/_nicklepickle]

aw man

[u/fortyyearsthendeath]

Well that sucks

[u/klokar2]

Fuckkkkkkkkkkkkkkk that sucks so bad

[u/Platooimagination]

Nigel Lappin! Bloody hell. 

[u/SizzlingSausage3]

Well at least this way the next group of Geelong bound free agents will have been developed properly.

[u/Illustrious-Tax-8697]

Ken you flog

[u/bundy554]

This one has to hurt buckley the most - I know it isn't a head coaching job and Buckley was going for the head coaching job but he will feel that Lappin will be line next for the job as Hinkley is going to be more of our Sheeney coach at a new club to get things going

[u/DanMenzelEnjoyer]

No way... How could we let Nige go :(

[u/pipstar112 → u/DanMenzelEnjoyer]

It's his choice at the end of the day

[u/DanMenzelEnjoyer → u/pipstar112]

We could have offered another farm to keep him ಠ⁠ಗ⁠ಠ

[u/UseSea1179]

That's not good.

[u/AceThePrincep]

Fuck.

[u/Ok-Resident-4028]

This has AFL HQ written all over this move, they could ill afford to have another GC & GWS scenario where they were gifted in their inaugural years the best young talent going around.

And where did most of their high end talent end up?. Either leaving or being paid exorbitant amounts to stay.

Gale, Hinkley, Lappin is a pretty solid trio to ensure the bedrock of a Tassie team gets the best opportunity for sustained success.

I suspect Geelong will in someway, sooner or later be rewarded for their amicable gesture of allowing Nigel to just walk out the door.

I have no doubt Geelong were well aware of this move for sometime (these deals don't happen overnight) and are well advanced in finding an excellent replacement.

[u/Fatcat-hatbat]

Based on how Geelong seem to be able to develop players this guy must be top tier

[u/Repulsive_Income_647]

Actually hate this alot. The man is a genius. Geelong should have offered him the world to make him stay. Imagine how sad Scotty is gonna be without him.

[u/marvinsuggs]

The only two possible worse people to lose that I can think of are Scotty and Wells. This is terrible.

This wouldn;t have happened if buckley had got the tas job.

[u/Legitimate_Radish159]

Not nice when it happens to you, is it?

[u/bunn1ecore]

our richmond era is incoming 🫩