Three-time premiership winner Nigel Lappin will announce his retirement from AFL football on Tuesday.

The Brisbane Lions co-captain has played just four games this season due to a lingering Achilles tendon problem, and was off-contract at the end of the year.

It is believed the 32-year-old met with Lions coach Leigh Matthews on Monday to discuss his future, and the club has called a media conference to announce his retirement at 12.30pm (AEST) in Brisbane on Tuesday.

Lappin, a 279-match veteran, was a vital part of the midfield machine that drove the Lions to three consecutive premierships from 2001.

He was named the Lions' best and fairest in 2004, and earned four All-Australian selections.

His final years have been dogged by injury, beginning in 2005 when he broke his leg and dislocated an ankle in a horrific incident in a loss to the Sydney Swans.

He then missed the entire 2006 season to recover from an ankle reconstruction after he aggravated the injury in a pre-season match.

Lappin returned to form in 2007, only to be dogged by the Achilles injury this year.

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