Brisbane Lions coaching succession after Chris Fagan, Digi Mart USA News: The Brisbane Lions are expected to announce a replacement for three-time premiership coach Chris Fagan this week, as the club weighs whether to appoint internal candidate Cameron Bruce or pursue external candidates Nathan Buckley, Hayden Skipworth or Adam Simpson.
Despite Bruce being considered the favourite, the Lions have said they have not settled on a successor. Fagan retired soon after leading the Lions to their third consecutive flag, when they overcame Fremantle with a late finish in an epic grand final.
The club is looking beyond 2027, where it remains a strong premiership chance, toward its next era. Under Fagan, the group reached eight consecutive finals series and four straight grand finals, and has played in four finals in each of its past three premiership campaigns.
Industry sources who spoke on condition of anonymity said the club needs to be convinced an internal appointment is at least as capable as the external candidates available. They also want the new coach to maintain the momentum Fagan created in Queensland and nationally.
Alongside football manager Danny Daly, the club has built a well-led program that is largely player driven.
The 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 players hold him in high regard. He played 224 matches for Melbourne and 10 for Hawthorn before retiring in 2012, joined the Brisbane Lions in 2022, and was responsible for midfield and centre bounces at the club in 2026.
Buckley and Simpson coached against each other in the 2018 premiership, with the Eagles winning the flag under Simpson. Simpson finished at West Coast in 2024 with a 50 per cent winning record after 242 matches and has since worked in the media.
Buckley returned to coaching as an assistant at Geelong in 2025 after leaving Collingwood in 2021, where he had a 54 per cent winning record in 218 matches. He was also a candidate for the Tasmania job and had met with Melbourne and North Melbourne when their coaching positions were vacant.
Skipworth is a well-credentialled assistant who began his stint at Collingwood in the coaches’ box with Buckley after coaching at Essendon, including coaching his own team in the VFL. He also played for the Crows and the Bombers and is considered a good communicator.
It is rare for clubs to appoint a new coach following a premiership. Allan Jeans returned to coach Hawthorn in 1989 after Alan Joyce coached the team to a flag in 1988 while Jeans took a break for health reasons.
Peter Jones replaced Alex Jesaulenko as coach in 1980 after a board coup following the 1979 flag.
Fagan announced last week that he is joining Carlton as director of coaching in 2027, after 243 matches with a winning percentage of 61.32.
Meanwhile, former Carlton and Giants utility Zac Williams announced his retirement from the AFL on Sunday after a 183-match career. He played 70 matches in six injury-riddled seasons at Carlton and 113 matches at the Giants.
His high point was a best-on-ground performance for the Giants in their 2019 preliminary final win over Collingwood.
