Chris Fagan hasn’t shut down speculation that Saturday’s grand final could be his last at the helm of Brisbane as he prepares to join a select group of coaches to lead a club to a hat-trick of premierships.
There has been talk in the lead-up to the decider that Fagan could step down after the Lions’ clash against Fremantle at the MCG on Saturday after 10 years in the hot seat.
Already a dual premiership coach, the 65-year-old could become only the seventh VFL/AFL coach to lead a team to three consecutive premierships with a victory over the Dockers.
When asked about his future, Fagan — who is contracted until the end of 2027 — said he would sit down with the Lions’ hierarchy at the end of the season to discuss his future.
“I’m only worried about the game tomorrow,” Fagan said at the pre-grand final press conference.
“Every year, for the last two or three years, I’ve had a chat with our CEO and president about when’s the right time for me to finish up.
“This is my 10th year, so I’ve been going for a while. I will get through this game and probably have the usual chat I’ve had every other year.”
It comes after Brisbane legendary coach and long-time Fagan mentor Leigh Matthews — who led the Lions to a hat-trick of flags between 2001 and 2003 — speculated on the coach’s future earlier in the week, saying it was a lifestyle choice and he might decide he doesn’t want to do it anymore.
“He’s in his 10th year and I know for the last few years at the end of each year, he doesn’t worry about his contract that’s irrelevant to him, he gets to the end of the year and basically says ‘Do I want to keep (going)’,” Matthews told On The Couch.
“Because coaching is a lifestyle … it’s a lifestyle that you’ve got to be prepared to live, and at some time he might say ‘I don’t want to do that anymore’.
“This has been the same situation I would’ve thought for the last few years, so it’s nothing new going into (the end) of 2026.”
Former Lions captain Jonathan Brown said he suspected Fagan would want to try for an incredible four consecutive flags should they win on Saturday.
“I guess there’s always a chance. I have heard that similar speculation for the last week or so, but I haven’t heard any authority on it,” Brown told On The Couch.
“You could understand if he wanted to walk off into the sunset, but especially if they won on Saturday, I think it’d be too tempting to go for four next year.”
Asked about the comments from Matthews and Brown, Fagan said it was not a big issue for him.
“That’s OK, it’s fair enough to speculate about it, but I honestly don’t know right at this point in time whether I will keep going or not,” Fagan said.
“I was like that last year and the year before, so we just have to work out the right time to go.
“It’s not the big issue – we have to play a big game tomorrow.”
