POTENTIALLY looming as the second father-daughter selection tied to an interstate club, Geelong Falcons’ Meg Lappin has been one of the big improvers the last 12 months. A raw tall who really found her feet as a bottom-ager, the daughter of Brisbane triple premiership player and 279-gamer Nigel enters her top-age year as one to watch.
Lappin plays alongside her twin sister Ally, with Meg being a member of the Vic Country hub. We spoke to her at the recent Coates Talent League Girls Preseason Testing Day.
LAST SEASON STATISTICS
Team | Games | Disposals | Marks | Hitouts | Tackles | Inside 50s | Goals |
Geelong Falcons | 16 | 6.6 | 1.5 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 1.2 | 10 |
Q&A:
Q: Meg, tell us a bit about your footy journey?
ML: “I started when I was about Year 4 so about 9/10. I played for my local club Newtown in Geelong. I played there up until Under 16s Falcons where I played a couple of games there. Got picked in the Under 16s Vic Country team and just where I am now in Under 18s for the Geelong Falcons.”
Q: Who would you say has had the most influence in your football journey?
ML: “Definitely my parents. I spent a lot of time with my dad kicking the footy around, me and my sisters. Very competitive and I look up to them a lot. They take me everywhere to all the games, they’re always there for me so definitely them.”
Q: How much do you know of your dad’s career?
ML: “He talks about it a little bit, watched a couple of his games. But he likes to focus on me, so that’s good.”
Q: How has it been working alongside your sister?
ML: “We’re very competitive so it’s good to get the practice in with her outside of training. I think that’s a real advantage. But we work well together.”
Q: With that coming into your draft year being linked to the Lions who are interstate, how do you feel about the potential relocation?
ML: “It does help a bit to have a connection there. I know he adored the club so it would be good to have an opportunity there and he can help me through it.”
Q: What do you see as some of the strengths in your game?
Probably my speed as a tall. I think I can use that playing down forward to be that leading target and you kind of don’t expect it from a tall, so I think that can be a real weapon for me.”
Q: What about the improvements you’re looking to make?
ML: “Always looking to improve my fitness, I think it’s at an average base at the moment but through preseason I’ve been working really hard on it and I think it can become a weapon if I put the work in.”
Q: Who’s had the most influence on your career on the field?
ML: “I think probably definitely my teammates, Georgia Tyrrell. I’ve worked closely with her and her dedication to the club and the efforts she puts in on gameday and at training, yeah I really look up to her.”
Q: Which AFL/W club you support?
ML: “I support Geelong Cats.”
Q: Reason for them over Brisbane?
ML: “Well because I live in Geelong, it’s just the home club, I can go to all the games.”
Q: Who is a player you look up to at the top level?
ML: “Probably Kate Darby from the Geelong Cats. I think her aerial work and I’ve had the opportunity to work with her through training because she does a but with the Geelong Falcons and just her advice and the efforts she puts into the game I really adore.”
Q: Finally, what goals do you set for yourself this year?
“I think the overall goal is to get drafted, but I think just to have a consistent year. Putting the work in at training to get more consistent.”