Carlton coach Michael Voss has seemingly ruled Nigel Lappin out of his search for assistants, as the former Lions coach begins to build into his new role.
It has been speculated the Geelong assistant could join his premiership captain at Princes Park, but when asked if Lappin was on the Blues’ shortlist, Voss was emphatic.
“No, he’s not. Not currently,” he told Sportsday.
“I don’t want to speak on Nige’s behalf, he can do that well and truly, but as far as I’m aware he’s not.”
Caroline Wilson reported on Wednesday night that the Cats had made an enticing, long-term offer to Lappin in the hope he will stay at Kardinia Park.
Having already farewelled assistants Matthew Knights, Corey Enright and Matthew Scarlett, it stands to reason Chris Scott would want to preserve one of his long-term advisors.
“I know he was very keen, if he (were to) get another senior job, to bring his mate Nigel Lappin over with him,” Wilson told Footy Classified.
“Geelong have thrown a spanner in the works there, offering Nigel Lappin a long-term contract of four or five years I understand, to be their key development man.”
Voss and Lappin made up one half of the Brisbane Lions’ ‘Fab Four’ onballers, along with Simon Black and Jason Akermanis.
Drafted with the second selection in the 1993 national draft, Lappin notched up three premiership medals and four All-Australian selections over 279 games.
He retired in 2008 and has been with the Cats ever since, a span that has encompassed 12 finals series, two premiership victories and another Grand Final appearance.
When pressed as to whether any other tacticians were on his radar, Voss was non-committal.
“We’re working through that at the moment,” the 46-year-old explained.
“That was probably the first conversation I had today, once we had dealt with some media commitments.
“The really big thing I’m about is diversity, there’s an opportunity here to bring in a diverse group that can complement myself, but more importantly get to work and coach these players.”