Tasmania has secured one of the AFL's most respected football development leaders, appointing three-time premiership player Nigel Lappin as the club's inaugural Head of Development.

Lappin will join the Devils after more than 18 years at Geelong, where he has earned a reputation as one of the competition's premier player development coaches.

Widely regarded across the AFL industry, he has played a pivotal role in developing emerging talent, mentoring leaders and helping sustain one of the competition's most successful football programs.

The appointment is another significant step in building Tasmania’s football department as the club continues its journey towards entering the AFL competition in 2028. 

Chief Executive Officer Brendon Gale said Lappin's appointment reflected the club's commitment to attracting exceptional people to help build a club capable of sustained success.

"Nigel is one of the most respected development coaches in Australian football,” Gale said.

“Throughout his career he has demonstrated an exceptional ability to develop players, nurture leaders and build high-performance environments where people can thrive.

"As a start-up club we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build our football program the right way from the very beginning.

“The role of Head of Development is exceptionally important to the build of the club’s football lists, we are confident that Nigel's experience, humility and values make him an outstanding fit for what we're creating.

“With the recent appointment of Ken Hinkley and now Nigel, I am confident that we are building a team that will lay the most solid of foundations for us to build upon.”

Tasmania's newly appointed Head Coach, Ken Hinkley, said he was thrilled with Lappin's appointment.

"We’re thrilled to have Nigel joining us in Tasmania,” Hinkley said.

“He's got a wealth of experience from both his playing and coaching career, but what stands out most is the way he connects with people and helps players get the very best out of themselves.

"As we build this football club, having outstanding people around our players is critical.

“Nigel shares our belief that development is about more than improving footballers – it's about helping young people grow as athletes, teammates and people, and he'll play a really important role in shaping our environment to facilitate that.

"I've admired Nigel's work for a long time, and I know the impact he'll have on our program.

“His experience, character and commitment to developing talent make him a fantastic addition to our football department, and we're excited to have him on the journey with us."

Lappin said the opportunity to help establish Australia's newest AFL club was one of the most exciting challenges in football.

"It's rare to build a club from the ground up,” Lappin said.

“To lead the development function from the start is unique opportunity to shape something very special.

"Tasmania has an incredible football history and passion for the game.

“To now have the opportunity to help shape its AFL future is something I feel incredibly privileged to be part of.

"Development isn't just about making better footballers, it's about building better people, creating strong habits and establishing a culture that lasts.

“That's what excites me most about this role."

Lappin, a 279-game player and triple premiership Lion, was among the competition's elite midfielders during Brisbane's historic premiership era, earning four consecutive All-Australian selections and the club's best and fairest award in 2004.

Since retiring, he has become one of the AFL's most highly regarded football educators, helping develop multiple generations of players at Geelong.

Lappin will continue with Geelong until the end of the current AFL season and commence with the Devils in November.