FORMER Brisbane Lions co-captain Nigel Lappin has knocked back an offer from new coach and premiership teammate Michael Voss to come out of retirement.

The triple premiership player with the club, Lappin announced his retirement late last month a persistent achilles injury kept him to just four senior games in 2008, but was asked to reconsider his decision by Voss after the club legend was appointed to replace Leigh Matthews as senior coach.

Famed for playing the 2003 grand final with cracked ribs, 32-year-old Lappin admitted these days he was flat out running after his kids, and informed the club on Tuesday he would be sticking with his decision to hang up the boots.

"The Brisbane Lions advises that former co-captain Nigel Lappin has declined the offer from new senior coach Michael Voss to come out of retirement and play with the club in season 2009," a Lions statement released on Tuesday afternoon  said.

"Nigel appreciated the offer but stands by the comments he made at his retirement media conference in August."

The four-time All Australian has played just 22 games in three seasons, including the four this year, and an unorthodox fitness test told the Lions veteran in no uncertain terms that the achilles complaint was not going away.

"It made some improvements towards the end of the season but ... I went for a 500-metre run the other day and it pulled up really sore," Lappin said.

 "I was jogging to catch up with someone. Actually it was the kids.

"My body is feeling good but my achilles is still not good and that's the disappointing thing."

It was frustrating for a player who demanded a lot from his body, as evidenced by his inspirational four-quarter effort in the 2003 premiership, and he said he gave Voss’ offer due consideration.

"You always give (coming back) thought. It's what you know and what you have always been good at," said Lappin, a veteran of 279 games.

 "But I've played 20 (sic) games over the last three years. As much as you don't want to, you start questioning your body and then you start questioning a lot of other things.

"If you do that, you find it hard focusing on the footy."

At his retirement announcement in August, Lappin expressed disappointment he did not end his career on better terms and said he was flattered that Voss had asked him to reconsider.

 But a heart-to-heart with his former teammate on Monday night put things in perspective.

"I had a chat with `Vossy' last night about a few things," he said.

"It's great that he wanted me to play, but with age - (Richmond's) Matty Richardson aside - most (veteran) players don't get better.

"You get to a point where you get really frustrated with the way you are playing and with injuries and that's where I have been."