Name: Andrew Lappos
Carlton member years: 35
Favourite player: Mike Fitzpatrick & Peter Bosustow
Memorable match: 1999 preliminary final win against Essendon
Andrew Lappos had two options as a little boy: Carlton or Collingwood. Luckily for him, he chose wisely.
After migrating to Australia from New Zealand in the mid 1970s, it wasn’t until 1978 he was introduced to Aussie Rules and had to make that life-changing decision.
“When I came to Australia in 1977, I started going to Coburg North Primary School. When it came to football I had two choices: I could be a Collingwood or Carlton supporter – and I chose Carlton for safety!” he laughed.
In 1979 Andrew can remember watching Carlton’s grand final victory on a little colour TV and in the following year he attended his first match.
“My very first game was at Princes Park in 1980, it was Carlton versus Richmond.
“I went with my late grandmother who knew nothing about football, she confused the footy with an egg!” he joked.
The year after Andrew watched his first live match he became a Carlton member and never looked back.
Over the years Andrew has loved to watch many players, but there are two in particular that stand out.
“My childhood hero was Mike Fitzpatrick – that goes without saying – but for excitement and magic it was Peter Bosustow,” he said.
Andrew says the most memorable goal he’s ever seen was a Peter Bosustow special, which ended up being named Goal of the Year in 1981.
“It was the goal Bosustow kicked against Geelong – the smother and then the snap,” he said.
Bosustow, a dual premiership player (1981 and ‘82) was Carlton’s leading goal kicker in 1981 with 59 goals. Although he only played 65 games for the Blues he booted a whooping 146 goals.
Andrew, a usually calm and composed man, admits he has shed a tear at the football – the moment came in 1993.
“Yeah I have been emotional, when we lost to Essendon in the 1993 grand final – I was there that day,” he said.
And six years later it was Essendon again that got his heart racing and emotions churning.
He was there for that famous one-point victory over the Bombers in the 1999 preliminary final and says he was “nearly needing CPR”.
“Two moments stand out from that day – Kouta’s mark in the goal square against all those Essendon players and then the Fraser Brown tackle which happened right in front of me,” he said.
Andrew has been to almost every Carlton home game this season and says he loves the social aspect of footy.
“I go on my own and sit in the social club area. Over the years I’ve gotten to know the people around me and we sit together each week.
“I just love getting to the ground, catching up with friends and having a chat,” he said.
