End of an era for Lions as Chris Fagan quits after third Grand Final triumph – sparking hunt for his successor
Chris Fagan is stepping down as Brisbane coach after securing a third AFL flag on the bounce with a stunning Grand Final triumph over Fremantle.
The humble Lions coach, 65, will not return for an 11th season at the helm of the Lions, despite having a year to run on his contract.
It means the Lions will need to find a new coach in their quest for a historic four-peat, a feat unseen in the VFL/AFL since Collingwood from 1927-30.
Brisbane football boss Danny Daly, who left a career in banking to join Collingwood in 2000 before stints at North Melbourne and Richmond, has confirmed a desire to become a senior coach.
He has previously knocked back interest from Gold Coast, Collingwood, Essendon, West Coast and Melbourne.
Fagan had been talking up backline coach Dale Morris, who suggested the idea of using ‘Wharfie Time’ to motivate the Lions if the Dockers reached for the button in the Grand Final.
Chris Fagan is stepping down as Brisbane coach after securing a third AFL flag
The 65-year-old (pictured celebrating with the team on Saturday) will not return for an 11th season at the helm of the Lions, despite having a year to run on his contract
The news comes just two days after Fagan was the centre of attention at a fan day event following Brisbane’s 14.12 (96) to 12.17 (89) Grand Final win over Fremantle
Daly also floated midfield coach Cam Bruce as another possible replacement, while pointing to an increasing trend around the league for clubs to opt for young first-time assistant coaches.
The news comes just two days after Fagan was the centre of attention at a fan day event following Brisbane’s 14.12 (96) to 12.17 (89) Grand Final win over Fremantle.
The victory marked Brisbane’s second three-peat this century, matching the club’s 2001, 2002 and 2003 flags under coach Leigh Matthews.
With the 2024, 2025 and 2026 premiership cups in tow, players proudly donned their premiership medals and signed autographs for supporters.
Fagan was presented with the keys to the city by Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner after shaking hands with Queensland Premier David Crisafulli.
‘It was an amazing day, wasn’t it? Just when we thought we were going to lose, we won,’ Fagan told the throngs of Lions fans at Riverstage in the City Botanic Gardens.
‘As hard as that is, it’s the most exciting way to win and credit for the victory goes to all the boys standing here on my right.’
A chant of ‘one more year’ – the same refrain deployed during the Lions’ Victorian family day at Brunswick St Oval on Sunday – went up as the coach accepted the honour.
Fagan was presented with the keys to the city by Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner after shaking hands with Queensland Premier David Crisafulli
Fagan had a year to run on his contract following the Grand Final but had publicly acknowledged he was weighing up whether to continue into an 11th season.
He also considered stepping down at the end of the previous two seasons but, with the news that he is officially leaving the coaching position, attention has turned to what he will do next.
‘If I don’t coach again, I want to stay in footy in some way, shape or form,’ Fagan told Fox Footy’s AFL 360 earlier this week.
‘It’s more just being the head coach and having that responsibility all the time is the thing that weighs on you.
‘If I don’t continue with Brisbane, I think I’ll move back to Melbourne to be around my daughters, sons-in-law and the grandkids.’