+34
Chris Fagan has retired as Brisbane Lions coach after leading the club to a third consecutive AFL premiership, ending a tenure that included 148 wins and a historic three-peat.
Chris Fagan has retired as coach of the Brisbane Lions after leading the club to a historic third consecutive AFL premiership. The 65-year-old told players and staff of his decision at a meeting on Thursday afternoon, ahead of the club's best and fairest night.
Fagan departs on top with one year remaining on his contract. He said telling the players and football staff was one of the hardest things he has done in his life. He added that the club had been on a mission to make the Lions the most entertaining and competitive team in the competition and that they had done that. Fagan leaves as one of the most popular figures in Australian sport.
Brisbane Lions Coach Record
He finishes his role with 148 wins in 243 games as head coach, the most of any Brisbane Lions coach of all time, and three premierships. His winning record over the past four seasons was 70 per cent. He coached the team into the past four grand finals for three premierships after taking the position in late 2016 at the age of 55, when the Lions were second bottom on the ladder.
A five-person coaching selection panel led by then chief executive Greg Swann appointed him on October 4. Swann said Fagan was the perfect fit as the club strove to regain relevance, praising his knowledge, experience, mentoring skills and ability to communicate. In Fagan's first season, the Lions finished rock bottom, ending the 2017 campaign with 17 losses. He still called it a great year and said he had learned so much about the group.
He coached the team to five wins in each of his first two seasons before leading the club into the finals for the first time in 2019. They have not missed the finals since. From 2019 to 2023 the Lions won 49 of 53 regular season games at the Gabba. In 2023, Brisbane were unbeaten at home, turning the ground back into the Gabbatoir.
Fagan said there was nothing magical or mysterious about it, crediting hard work, staying humble and believing. In 2023, he guided the Lions to their first grand final in 19 years, losing to Collingwood by four points. Fagan asked fans and players to be patient, saying grand final losses do not have to define or destroy you and can make you.
He noted that many teams have lost close grand finals and gone on to win premierships in the ensuing years. In 2024, after a fifth-placed finish, the Lions clawed through the longer finals path and defeated the Sydney Swans 120-60 in the grand final. They became just the third team to win the premiership from outside the top four.
Fagan told ABC Sport he was proud of the group and its resilience, adding that they know how to do it the hard way and that it makes achievement better. In 2025 the Lions lost their qualifying final against Geelong 112-74. They then eased past Gold Coast Suns in the semifinal and defeated Collingwood in the preliminary final, setting up a rematch against Geelong in the grand final. Brisbane won that match to complete the three-peat.
Chris Fagan Coaching Career
From Tasmania, Fagan grew up in Queenstown and played 260 games of senior footy in the Tasmanian Football League with Hobart, Sandy Bay and Devonport between 1978 and 1990. He was a premiership player with Hobart and Devonport but did not play at the top level. Before coaching, he worked as a high school teacher in Tasmania towards the end of his playing career and took on local coaching roles.
His long apprenticeship began in 1998 or 1999 when AFL great Neale Daniher brought him to Melbourne Football Club. He served under Daniher until 2007 before joining Hawthorn as an assistant and eventually general manager of football. He was a key figure alongside senior coach Alastair Clarkson in the Hawks' three-peat between 2013 and 2015.
Fagan left Hawthorn at the end of 2016 and later became embroiled in the AFL's Hawthorn racism investigation, which was resolved at the Human Rights Commission. The AFL found no adverse findings in relation to Fagan, who always denied wrongdoing. The publicity took a toll on him. At the end of the 2022 season, he took a leave of absence to assist with an external review into the treatment of Indigenous players.
Fagan, Clarkson and Burt categorically denied all allegations, and the case was settled out of court. Fagan returned to his coaching duties in late October 2022. Fagan's relationships with his players were a huge strength and he also attracted players to the club. He was known as Fages, or Papa Fages, to many of the young men he coached.
Many referred to him as a father figure or another grandfather. Fagan often said he considered players at the club as his sons and wanted to help them develop into the best people they can be. He did not shy away from discussion that the grand final might be his final match as coach. After the win, he gave an indication of which way he was leaning.
Retiring at Peak
He said it might sound strange after winning a premiership, but he did not want to be the guy who hangs around until the team fails. He said there was a little bit inside him that would rather walk away when the team is on top. He called it the dream way to finish, noting that for most coaches it ends in tragedy, usually with a coach getting the boot.
Fagan is now a legend at the Lions, standing alongside his mentor and friend, AFL legend Leigh Matthews, as a triple-premiership Lions coach. He has admitted at times he felt more stress coaching a team in premiership contention than when the team was rebuilding. The Lions are expected to make an internal appointment to replace Fagan as coach. Football manager Danny Daly and assistant coach Cameron Bruce are among the potential candidates.
Fagan and co-captains Hugh McCluggage, Josh Dunkley and Harris Andrews were pictured with the premiership cup after the win.
smh 
theage:Three-time premiership coach Chris Fagan retires a Lions legend 
brisbanetimes:Three-time premiership coach Chris Fagan retires a Lions legend 
abcnews:Chris Fagan headed the ultimate Lions reawakeningThis story was compiled and edited by the HeadTopics newsroom and HT AI from the reports above.
Chris Fagan Brisbane Lions AFL Coaching Retirement Chris Fagan Retirement AFL Premiership Three-Peat Brisbane Lions Coach Replacement Brisbane Lions Premiership AFL Coaching Change Brisbane Lions Three-Peat AFL News Coaching Retirement
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News: You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Brisbane Lions Celebrate Third Consecutive Premiership Amid Future Coaching DiscussionsThe Brisbane Lions wrapped up a triumphant 2026 season with a celebratory ceremony at Riverstage, complete with the city's mayor handing the coach the keys to the city. While Chris Fagan refrains from confirming whether he will stay on for the 2027 season, club leadership notes that the decision will be made after the year's final game and will depend on the team's desire to continue the pattern of excellence. The event also showcased the club's succession plans, highlighted by Danny Daly, the Head of Football, and other potential internal candidates. Fans and players alike provided a rousing celebration, forever cementing the program's place in the AFL's storied history.
Read more »
Chris Fagan given special gift as three-word fan chant eruptsThousands of fans went wild for the players, but saved their best cheer for the beloved coach.
Read more »
Chris Fagan Steps Down as Brisbane Lions Coach After Third-Straight AFL PremiershipChris Fagan has told the Brisbane Lions he is stepping down as coach after leading the club to a third-straight AFL premiership. The 65-year-old will leave the final year of his contract to return to Melbourne with his family.
Read more »