3 premierships in a row: Chris Fagan retires as Brisbane Lions coach

Just five days after Brisbane snatched victory from the jaws of defeat against Fremantle on the Melbourne Cricket Ground turf, the roar of the premiership celebrations gave way to emotional farewells inside the Gabba. Triple-premiership mastermind Chris Fagan gathered his players and staff on Thursday afternoon to announce he is stepping down as senior coach with one year remaining on his contract. The 65-year-old departs at the summit of Australian rules football after an extraordinary decade-long rebuild that culminated in a historic three-peat.

Why This Is Trending

Fagan’s abrupt departure has sent shock waves through Australian sport because it comes on the heels of the most dramatic premiership finish in recent AFL history. On Saturday, Brisbane trailed Fremantle by 17 points with barely four minutes left on the clock before kicking four unanswered goals to seal a 14.12 (96) to 12.17 (89) triumph. While whispers emerged during grand final week that the veteran mentor might consider walking away if he claimed a third successive flag, his formal confirmation on Thursday blindsided fans eager to see the Lions chase an unprecedented fourth straight title.

The announcement also coincides with major squad changes heading into the off-season. Dual Brownlow medallist Lachie Neale has elected to join Collingwood for 2027 as an unrestricted free agent, meaning Brisbane will enter their title defence without either their talismanic midfielder or their championship coach.

What Happened

Fagan broke the news directly to Brisbane bosses, players, and coaching staff ahead of the club’s best-and-fairest awards night, opting to forgo the final season of his contract to relocate to Victoria with his wife Ursula.

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.

Brisbane Lions chief executive Sam Graham confirmed that the administration fully backed Fagan’s choice to leave on his own terms. Graham stated that while the club would have welcomed him staying on, Fagan had earned the right to call time at the peak of his coaching powers. Chairman Andrew Wellington praised the Tasmanian mentor for building a culture anchored in shared belief, noting that Fagan’s impact extended across the broader code in Queensland.

What We Know So Far

Fagan wraps up his tenure as Brisbane’s longest-serving and most successful coach. Over 10 seasons, he took charge of 243 games, recording 148 wins, 93 losses, and two draws for an overall win rate of 61.32 per cent. That ledger surpasses the club record of Australian Football Hall of Fame Legend Leigh Matthews, who notched 142 wins, 92 losses, and three draws in 237 matches during the Lions’ early-2000s glory era.

The milestones behind Fagan’s decade in Brisbane highlight one of the sharpest turnarounds in modern sporting history:

• 2016 appointment: Inherited a depleted squad that finished second-bottom, winning only 5 games in each of his first two seasons (2017 and 2018).
• Eight consecutive finals campaigns: Reached September every year from 2019 through 2026, claiming the AFL Coaches Association Coach of the Year award in 2019, 2024, and 2025.
• The Gabba fortress: Built a dominant home ground run where the Lions won 49 of 53 regular-season games in Brisbane between 2019 and 2023.
• Four consecutive Grand Finals: Bounced back from a heartbreaking four-point defeat against Collingwood in 2023 to secure flags over Sydney (120-60 in 2024), Geelong (122-75 in 2025), and Fremantle (96-89 in 2026).

Why It Matters

Fagan redefined modern coaching pathways across Australia. Unlike the overwhelming majority of premiership-winning mentors, he never played top-flight VFL or AFL football, having spent his on-field career playing 263 games across the Tasmanian Football League with Hobart, Sandy Bay, and Devonport. After working as a high school teacher, he cut his teeth under Neale Daniher at Melbourne before serving as general manager of football alongside Alastair Clarkson at Hawthorn during their 2013–2015 three-peat.

Taking the reins at Brisbane when he was 55, Fagan relied on relationship-building, patience, and emotional candour rather than traditional authoritarian tactics. His departure shifts the competitive balance of the entire league. The Lions were positioned to mount a genuine run at a four-peat, a milestone untouched in VFL/AFL history since Collingwood achieved it between 1927 and 1930. Losing both their chief cultural architect and their lead on-field midfielder tests Brisbane’s systemic resilience.

What Happens Next

Brisbane now opens an active search for a replacement senior coach. General manager of football Danny Daly, who previously attracted interest from rival clubs such as Melbourne, Essendon, and Gold Coast, has confirmed a desire to coach at senior level. Other potential internal candidates include midfield assistant Cameron Bruce and backline coach Dale Morris. Externally, established former senior coaches Nathan Buckley, Adam Simpson, and Simon Goodwin are expected to feature in initial club discussions.

For Fagan, a permanent move back to Melbourne to be near his daughters, sons-in-law, and grandchildren is the immediate priority. However, he has made it clear that he plans to stay involved in football in an advisory or off-field capacity, with incoming expansion outfit the Tasmania Devils tipped to pursue him for a board directorship.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Chris Fagan resign from the Brisbane Lions?
Fagan chose to retire from senior coaching with one year left on his contract to spend more time with his family and return to Melbourne, explaining that the physical and mental demands of the job required full energy.

What was Chris Fagan’s final record as Brisbane coach?
Across 243 games between 2017 and 2026, Fagan recorded 148 wins, 93 losses, and two draws, giving him a 61.32 per cent winning strike rate and three AFL premierships.

Who might replace Chris Fagan at Brisbane?
Internal options include Brisbane football boss Danny Daly, assistant coach Cameron Bruce, and backline coach Dale Morris, while former senior coaches Nathan Buckley, Adam Simpson, and Simon Goodwin have also been linked to the vacancy.

Will Chris Fagan coach another AFL team?
Fagan ruled out immediate senior coaching roles, expressing a preference to stay involved in football through less demanding administrative or advisory capacities in Melbourne or with the Tasmania Devils.