Chris Fagan has told the Brisbane Lions he is stepping down as coach following the club’s third-straight AFL premiership success.
The 65-year-old led Brisbane to a stunning 14.12 (96) to 12.17 (89) victory against Fremantle on Saturday.
However, he told the club he wanted to step away from the final year of his contract to be closer to his family.
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Harris Andrews hails Fagan, says club was ‘blessed’ to have him
Harris Andrews is talking now.
He says that the club has been “blessed” to have Fagan and his family around the club.
He says he was so happy that the club were able to send him off with a fairytale premiership to finish.
He says the players were aware of the chat int he lead up to his announcement today.
But all the players are “so happy for him”.
“He’s just shown a genuine love and care for everyone who’s walked through those doors,” he says.
Chris Fagan goes off to get ready for tonight’s best and fairest, where he says there will be stories told and drinks had.
One moment that will stand out?
Fagan says that he will never forget the first time his side made finals.
“But I think the moment I’m never going to forget is the last five minutes of that grand final at the weekend,” he says.
“I’m gunna watch it over and over and over again.
“I’ve already watched it 20 times.
“I made the boys watch it again today.
“Because I’ve never seen anything like it
“Funnily enough, the last five minutes I coached were the best of my life.”
Fagan says that his lease on his apartment isn’t up until January, so he’ll probably still be around, visiting Noosa.
He also has some plans to put some stuff together from the grand final for the players.
“It’s a difficult decision to make,” he says of leaving.
“It’s a hard job, but working in AFL footy, when you get those wins, it makes you want to keep going.
“The hard bit’s been telling everybody.
“It was almost easier to make the decision than tell the players and the staff what was going on.”
Chris Fagan is asked whether anyone has tried to change his mind.
He said that his wife always had his back.
But the Lions officials, when he told them during the finals series that he was planning on leaving, had tried to twist his arm.
“To be fair, they have been trying to talk me out of it, which is nice of them,” he says.
“But I was pretty set in thinking the time would be up.
“Little did I know that we’d win another flag.”
“I don’t know. I don’t even know if there’s anything out there,” he says.
“Right now I’m unemployed.
“I don’t want to be a head coach, otherwise I’d be staying here.
“I never want to coach another team other than Brisbane
“I would like to stay involved in the industry. I’ve got no idea what that will be.
“If there isn’t I’ll find something meaningful to do.”
Fagan is asked about whether the prospect of a four-peat might have kept him in the job (apart from the fact that it obviously didn’t).
“I see that as a club thing, not a Chris Fagan thing,” he says, underlining his humility.
“There’s nothing to stop our club doing a four-peat
“And somebody else coming in for that fourth year – and I’ll be the happiest person on the planet if that happens.
“I wasn’t swayed by that. I’m not that into history.
“I guess it would be pretty cool, but I’m fairly happy with where I sit at the moment.
“I actually never expected to be an AFL coach.
“To be an AFL coach that’s been in four grannies and three premierships, I’ll take that any day of the week.”
Fagan says that he had been thinking about it for a while.
He says that after he won the first premiership he thought about it.
“I thought, maybe it’s time to go, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it,” he says.
“After the second one I felt the same.”
He says that he was always open to the Lions hierarchy that this would be the case with him.
“I sort of reached that point at a couple of times this season in my own mind,” he says.
“It might sound stilly after a premiership, but I like the thought of going out when things are good rather than when things are bad.
“Too many coaches it ends up in tears.
“I had tears today, but they were happy tears.”
Fagan famously never played football at the elite AFL or VFL level.
He says he wants other people to get into coaching, not necessarily from an elite playing pathway.
“I suppose what I hope for the future is that people from all different backgrounds can be considered,” he says.
“I don’t think there’s any right way to become an AFL coach.
“I was fortunate, I had a lot of experiences before I came to Brisbane.
“I had all of these experiences that probably enabled me to come and coach my own team, and people backed me in.
“I hope that other people that have walked my path get the opportunity.
“I am pretty sure there are other people like me that have got the talent and ability to do a coaching job that don’t get looked at. I hope it opens up a few eyes.”
It’s a great point.
As famous Italian football coach Arrigo Sacchi once said, “I never realised that in order to become a jockey you have to have been a horse first”.
“I’ve been thinking about this for some time and I’m comfortable that now is the right time for [my wife] Ursula and I to return to Melbourne,” Fagan said in a statement.
“Telling the players and football staff today was one of the hardest things I’ve done in my life.
“Together, we have been on a mission to make the Lions the most entertaining and competitive team in the competition, and we have done that.
“I was grateful to be given the role to coach the club, and it has been an incredible ride.
“This job is all-encompassing; I’ve given it my absolute all and I’m so proud of what we’ve achieved, but now is the right time to go.”
Fagan coached the Lions to the second premiership three-peat in the club’s history. (Getty Images/AFL Photos: Michael Willson)
Fagan took charge of the Lions in 2017, and leaves having coached 243 games with a winning record of 61.32 per cent.
This year, he passed legendary Lions coach Leigh Matthews as having coached the most games for the club.
The former school teacher was also part of the Hawthorn coaching staff as the club also won a three-peat of flags from 2013–2015 as well playing a role in their 2008 triumph.
In total, Fagan led the Lions in eight-straight finals series after claiming the wooden spoon in his opening season, winning just five games in each of his first two seasons.
Saturday’s stunning come-from-behind triumph was the Lions’ third-successive victory in a decider after beating Sydney and Geelong over the past two years.
He also led the Lions to the 2023 grand final, falling four points short of Collingwood.
Fagan speaking to his Lions players during his first season in charge. (Getty Images: Chris Hyde)
Brisbane Lions chair Andrew Wellington hailed Fagan for his “unwavering commitment” to helping others achieve their goals.
“Chris arrived at our club with a clear view of what good people, strong relationships and shared belief could achieve,” Wellington said.
“His influence has reached far beyond the Brisbane Lions. Chris has helped strengthen football across Queensland, inspired a new generation of players and supporters, and earned the respect of the wider football public for the way he has carried himself through success and adversity.”
Chief executive Sam Graham said the club respected Fagan’s decision and that steps would be taken to appoint a new coach “in due course”.
“Chris has played a massive role in the transformation of this club both on and off the field,” he said.
“While we would have loved nothing more for him to continue on, he has earned the right to call time when he was ready, and we’re pleased he’s going out on top.
“Chris’s achievements speak for themselves, but his greatest legacy is the environment he created, the people he developed and how he has nurtured this playing group.”
Leigh Mathews (left) congratulates Chris Fagan after Saturday’s grand final. (Getty Images/AFL Photos: Darrian Traynor)
His departure means the Lions will have to look for a new coach to help a stacked playing list attempt to win the first AFL/VFL four-peat since the Collingwood team of 1927–30.
Possible internal candidates include Brisbane’s football boss Danny Daly, senior assistant coach Cameron Bruce or backline coach Dale Morris.
Former league head coaches Nathan Buckley, Adam Simpson and Simon Goodwin have also been proposed as possible replacements.
“This club has never been in greater shape, and the list profile would suggest this,” Fagan said.
“The boys will continue to contend, and I’ll be their number-one fan, but a fresh face at the helm will be a key pillar for the players to come back to next season as they work hard to achieve more success.
“I’ll miss the club and it will feel strange not to be involved, but for the last 10 years I’ve thought about nothing other than how we can improve, get better and be successful.Â
“To see the club develop on field from cellar dwellers to three-time premiers has been amazing.
“The Lions are the sum of our parts and everyone across the club has played their role.”
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