Leppitsch becomes a Tigerrichmondfc.com.au
5:47 PM Thu 17 September, 2009
Richmond Football Club has secured the services of triple Brisbane Lion premiership player Justin Leppitsch as a defensive coach.
Leppitsch played 227 games for Brisbane from 1993-06, was equal winner of the club’s Best and Fairest award in 1999, won the Lions’ leading goalkicker award twice, and earned All-Australian selection on two occasions.
The 33-year-old immediately took up an assistant coaching position with the Lions in 2007 after a chronic back injury forced him into retirement.
As a player, Leppitsch excelled at both ends of the ground, but he built a reputation as an outstanding defender in a Brisbane team considered one of the best of all time.
“I’m excited about the challenge, to join a group that is on the right path, and I’m really keen to work with a new group of coaches and players,” Leppitsch said.
“I’ve never been involved in one of the bigger AFL clubs before, and I’m looking forward to learning about the history and tradition Richmond is famous for,” he said.
Leppitsch’s appointment comes hot on the heels of the announcement of recently-retired Port Adelaide ruckman Brendon Lade joining the restructured Richmond coaching panel.
Richmond senior coach Damien Hardwick said: “We’re thrilled Justin has made the decision to join the Richmond Football Club.”
“He has an outstanding pedigree as a player and assistant coach in such a successful Brisbane team.”
Justin Leppitsch profile Age: 33 (turns 34 on October 1)
AFL debut: 1993 with the then Brisbane Bears as a 17-year-old
Total AFL games (1993-2006): 227
Goals: 194
Playing honoursTriple Brisbane premiership player (2001-03); Lions’ equal Best and Fairest winner in 1999; two-time winner of Brisbane’s Leading Goalkicker award (1997 with 50 goals and 1998 with 26 goals); dual All-Australian representative
Coaching careerJoined Brisbane’s coaching staff in 2007. Worked primarily with the Lions’ defenders. Acted as the team’s senior coach during the 2008 NAB Cup campaign
http://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/6301/newsid/84909/default.aspx
