The Brisbane Lions are expected to announce a replacement for three-time premiership coach Chris Fagan this week as they ponder whether to appoint internal candidate Cameron Bruce or take the club into a new era under external candidates Nathan Buckley, Hayden Skipworth or Adam Simpson.
Despite Bruce being considered the favourite, the Lions have been adamant that they had not settled on a successor for Fagan who retired soon after leading the Lions to their third consecutive flag when they overcame Fremantle with a barnstorming finish in the final minutes of an epic grand final.
The club is looking not just to 2027 – where they remain a strong premiership chance – but beyond into the next era. This group reached eight consecutive finals series and four straight grand finals under Fagan and have played in four finals in each of their past three premiership campaigns.
Industry sources with knowledge of the process who wish to remain anonymous said the club need to be convinced an internal appointment is at least as capable as external candidates available.
They also want the new coach to meet the challenge of maintaining the momentum Fagan’s extraordinary record of success created for the club in Queensland and nationally with the position one of the most high profile in Australian sport. Alongside football manager Danny Daly, the club has created a well-led program which is, to a large extent, player driven.
The Lions selection panel includes chair Andrew Wellington, CEO Sam Graham, Daly and coaching mentor Phil Smyth. Board member and four-time premiership coach Leigh Matthews is acting in an advisory capacity and Simon Black and Matti Clements are being consulted.
Bruce has been involved in six premierships as a development and assistant coach at the Lions, Carlton and Hawthorn since 2013 and the players hold him in high regard. He played 224 matches for Melbourne and 10 games at Hawthorn before retiring in 2012. He joined the Brisbane Lions in 2022 and was responsible for midfield and centre bounces at the Lions in 2026.
Buckley and Simpson coached against each other in the 2018 premiership with the Eagles winning the flag with Simpson at the helm. Simpson finished at West Coast in 2024 with a 50 per cent winning record after 242 matches. He has worked in the media since finishing up.
Buckley returned to coach as an assistant coach at Geelong in 2025 after finishing up at the Magpies in 2021 having coached them to a 54 per cent winning record in 218 matches. He was a candidate for the Tasmania Devils job having also met with Melbourne and North Melbourne when their coaching jobs were vacant. He also played with the Brisbane Bears in 1993 before joining Collingwood where he started his career under Matthews. He has also been Fox Footy’s On the Couch with Matthews this season.
Skipworth is a well-credentialled assistant who started his stint at Collingwood in the coaches’ box with Buckley after coaching at Essendon, including stints coaching his own team in the VFL. He also played at the Crows and the Bombers and is considered a good communicator.
It is rare for clubs to appoint a new coach following a premiership with Allan Jeans returning to coach the Hawks in 1989 after Alan Joyce stepped in to coach the team to a flag in 1988 when Jeans took a break for health reasons.
Peter Jones replaced Alex Jesaulenko as coach in 1980 after a board coup following the 1979 flag saw Jesaulenko leave the job.
Fagan announced last week he was joining Carlton as their director of coaching in 2027 after 243 matches with a winning percentage of 61.32.
Meanwhile, former Blue and Giants’ utility Zac Williams announced his retirement from the AFL on Sunday following a 183-match career. He played just 70 matches in an injury riddled six seasons at Carlton and 113 matches at the Giants with his high point being a best on ground performance for the Giants in their 2019 preliminary final win over Collingwood.
You have reached your maximum number of saved items.
Remove items from your saved list to add more.
You've used all of your gift articles. 3 more will become available on the 1st of every month.
