Fagan endorses Bruce for Lions coaching role

Three-time premiership coach Chris Fagan has declared Cameron Bruce is ready to take the reins of the Brisbane Lions.

Speaking on SEN Breakfast, Fagan believes that his long-time assistant coach is a genuine candidate to replace him at the Lions for 2027 and beyond.

“He's been involved in a large number of premierships. Six, I think it is, three here (at Brisbane) and three at Hawthorn, so eight grand finals,” he said.

“He's been around a long time.”

Fagan firmly believes that Bruce, the 234-game former Melbourne and Hawks player, would have a senior coaching gig already if he pursued any of the previously available roles at other clubs.

“The only reason he hasn't put his hand up for jobs in more recent years is that he loves it up here,” Fagan added.

“He’s got a young family that love it up here as well. So he hasn't been inclined to move anywhere else, whereas, here's an opportunity where he doesn't have to go anywhere.

“I honestly think he would have an AFL coaching job right now if he had have decided to go for one of those jobs.”

Fagan called time on his head coaching tenure following Brisbane’s historic three-peat against Fremantle in this year’s Grand Final.

“The week after the Grand Final was a bit crazy because I sort of knew a few weeks out what I was going to do, so I just had to work out how to execute it,” he explained.

“It was nerve-wracking, sort of getting through the week to the Thursday when I told the players.

“I was a bit emotional when I told the players, but it was a great relief afterwards.

Fagan has previously said he intends to remain in the coaching landscape and return to Victoria, where multiple clubs have met with him to discuss potential roles.

Having started at Hawthorn as the Head of Coaching and Development in 2008, Fagan can see himself returning to a similar role.

“I think I did that role at Hawthorn for the first five or six years I was there before I became footy manager, and honestly, it was my favourite role that I've ever done,” Fagan said.

Just working alongside the coaches and working with the players as well to develop them and try to make them better.

“If I could find a role doing that somewhere, then that would be the perfect role for me.

“So, hopefully something like that can turn up over the next, week or two.”

Brisbane are expected to ramp up the search for their next coach in the coming weeks whilst Fagan continues to explore his next move.