Brisbane Lions Narrow Coaching Search to Four Candidates After Fagan Departure

The Brisbane Lions have narrowed their search for a new senior coach down to four candidates, with formal presentations currently underway. The position opened following the departure of three-time premiership coach Chris Fagan, who stepped down after securing a Grand Final victory over Fremantle in September.

The four remaining contenders for the role include current Lions assistant coach Cameron Bruce, former Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley, former West Coast premiership coach Adam Simpson, and Collingwood assistant Hayden Skipworth. Among them, Bruce is widely considered the favorite due to his deep familiarity with the playing group and his multi-year tenure working directly under Fagan.

Fagan himself has publicly endorsed Bruce as his logical successor. "He's been involved in a large number of premierships, six, three here and three at Hawthorn," Fagan noted, adding that Bruce possesses the capability to take on an AFL senior coaching role immediately.

Meanwhile, the other candidates bring extensive experience to the shortlist. Buckley joined Geelong as an assistant ahead of the 2026 season following his tenure leading Collingwood from 2012 to 2021. Simpson brings championship experience from his 11-year run with the West Coast Eagles, where he secured the 2018 flag before departing in 2024. Skipworth rounds out the quartet as a highly regarded assistant coach awaiting his first senior opportunity.

The selection panel responsible for choosing Fagan's replacement is led by Lions chairman Andrew Wellington, chief executive Sam Graham, and football boss Danny Daly. They are supported by an advisory group that includes club champion Leigh Matthews, former player Simon Black, and sports psychologist Matti Clements.

In a separate career move, Fagan has taken on a newly created role as coaching director at Carlton. In his new position, he will support senior coach Josh Fraser following a challenging transition period for the club, reuniting with Carlton chief executive Graham Wright with whom he previously achieved significant success at Hawthorn.

Fagan explained that his decision to join Carlton stemmed from a desire to focus on mentoring coaches and players after spending a decade as a senior coach. "I want to focus on supporting people and helping coaches and players realize their potential," Fagan stated regarding his new chapter.