Bad news: Leppa retires

[TroyGFC]

Leppitsch retires
1:27:17 PM Mon 5 June, 2006
Ben Wise
Sportal for afl.com.au
Brisbane Lions premiership defender Justin Leppitsch has announced his schock retirement from football on Monday.

The rugged centre-half-back cited being unable to recover from a debilitating back-related calf injury as the major reason behind his emotional decision to leave the game he loves.

The Victorian, who made Queensland his home when he was drafted by the Lions at No.4 in the 1992 National Draft, was an integral part of the dominant Brisbane side that won consecutive flags from 2001-2003.

Renowned as being one of the stingiest defenders and hardest men in the game in the past 20 years, the 30-year-old played 227 games, and was All-Australian in 1999, 2002 and 2003.

Despite losing his two-year hold on the All-Australian centre-half-back position to Port Adelaide's Chad Cornes in 2004, the Power star admitted that he modeled his game on Leppitsch's.


Displaying his versatility as a player who could be called upon for almost any role, Leppitsch was able to lead Brisbane's goalkicking list in 1997-98 and booted 194 goals in his career.

Having missed much of the second half of 2005 with back problems, the Brisbane Life Member was hoping that off-season surgery would get his career back on track.

[Blue Boy]

Thats a shame - sad way to go out

Always thought the Orange headed roughy could play.

Good Luck leppa and well played