The Southport Sharks are pleased to announce that Matthew Lappin has been appointed as QAFLW Senior Coach for 2025 and 2026.
Lappin played 55 AFL games for St Kilda and 196 AFL games for Carlton.
He was Carlton’s leading goal kicker in 2001, selected for the Australian International Rules team in 2001, 2005 and 2006, All Australian in 2004 and won AFL Mark of the Year in 1999.
Since retiring from playing AFL in 2007, he had coaching roles at Collingwood, Carlton and Gold Coast Suns.
From 2018-2022, he was an assistant coach for the Southport Sharks NEAFL & VFL teams, and he was most recently the Surfers Paradise QAFL Head Coach in 2023 and 2024.
In his first season at Surfers Paradise, he was named Coach of the QAFL Team of the Year.
Southport’s General Manager of Football, Jarrod Field, said, “It is great to have Matthew back at the Sharks after two seasons away from the club. His knowledge of the game is exceptional, and he has a passion for growing and developing women’s football.”
“It is an exciting time for our club to have someone of Matthew’s pedigree want to coach our QAFLW team as we aim for back-to-back premierships. This appointment once again shows that we are a destination club for anyone who has dreams of playing in the AFLW.”