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Chris Fagan, who led the Brisbane Lions to a third premiership flag on Saturday against Fremantle, has announced his retirement from coaching at age 65 after eight years with the club. He informed players and staff of his decision during a meeting on Thursday, one year before the end of his contract. Fagan joined the Lions in 2017 when they were struggling but guided them to four consecutive grand finals, winning three premierships. His departure marks the end of an era for the club, with internal candidates like football manager Danny Daly and assistant coach Cameron Bruce expected to take over.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-01,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Chris Fagan, 65, has retired from coaching the Brisbane Lions after leading them to their third consecutive AFL premiership on Saturday. He announced his decision to the team earlier this week before a year of his contract was set to expire. When he took over in 2017 at age 55, the Lions were struggling and ranked second-to-last in the league. Under Fagan’s guidance, they qualified for the finals in each of the last five seasons and won three premierships, with their most recent triumph coming against Fremantle after a comeback victory. Known affectionately as "Fages" or "Papa Fages," he built strong relationships with his players over a decade marked by significant team improvement and success.
Written for “Chris Fagan Leaves Brisbane Lions” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 2 other(s) covering the same event.
Triple-premiership coach Chris Fagan has decided to retire as coach of the Brisbane Lions after leading the club to a historic third flag on Saturday.
asserted
Fagan → decide → Saturday
The 65-year-old told players and staff of his intentions at a meeting on Thursday afternoon ahead of the club’s best and fairest night.
asserted
old → tell → night
He departs on top with one year remaining on his contract, having coached the team into the past four grand finals for three premierships after taking the position in 2017 at the age of 55 when the Lions were second bottom on the ladder.
asserted
Lions → depart → ladder
Fagan coached the team to five wins in each of his first two seasons as coach before leading the club into the finals for the first time in 2019.
asserted
Fagan → coach → 2019
They have not missed the finals since and achieved the three-peat with a remarkable comeback against Fremantle in Saturday’s grand final.
asserted
They → miss → final
From Tasmania, Fagan, a premiership player with Hobart and Devonport, did not play football at the top level.
asserted
Fagan → play → level
He began his remarkable career as an administrator and coach when the late Neale Daniher appointed him to be Melbourne’s reserves coach in 1998.
asserted
Daniher → begin → 1998
He then became an assistant coach at Hawthorn before progressing to become their football boss and was a key figure alongside senior coach Alastair Clarkson in the Hawks’ three-peat between 2013-15.
asserted
He → become → 2013
He left at the end of 2016 and then became embroiled in the AFL’s Hawthorn racism investigation, which ended up being resolved at the Human Rights Commission.
asserted
which → leave → Commission
The AFL found no adverse findings in relation to Fagan, who always denied wrongdoing, in their investigation, but the publicity took a toll on him.
asserted
publicity → find → him
Fagan is now a legend at the Lions, standing alongside his mentor and friend, AFL legend Leigh Matthews as a triple-premiership Lions’ coach.
asserted
Fagan → stand → coach
His winning record in the past four seasons as coach of the Lions has been 70 per cent, but he has admitted at times he has felt more stress coaching a team in premiership contention than he did when the team was rebuilding.
asserted
team → admit → contention
He did not shy away from discussion that the grand final might be his final match as coach in the lead-up to the match and gave an indication as to which way he was leaning after the win.
uncertain
he → shy → win
“It might sound like a strange thing for me to say after we just won a premiership, but I don’t really want to be that guy who hangs around until we fail,” he said.
uncertain
he → sound → premiership
“There’s a little bit inside of me who’d rather walk away when the team’s on top, I’ve got to be honest.
asserted
I → ’ → top
It’s sort of the dream way to finish, in many ways.
asserted
It → ’ → ways
“For most coaches, unfortunately, it ends in tragedy, usually, with a coach getting the boot.”
asserted
coach → end → boot
The Lions are expected to make an internal appointment to replace Fagan as coach with football manager Danny Daly and assistant coach Cameron Bruce among the potential candidates.
asserted
Lions → expect → candidates
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