Brisbane coach Chris Fagan has ruled out playing a role in selecting his replacement if he stands down.
After securing a third AFL flag on the trot with an incredible grand final triumph over Fremantle, the 65-year-old is weighing up his future despite having a year to run on his contract.
Fagan insists he still hasn’t made up his mind but doesn’t want to have a say in selecting his successor, should he decide to go out on a high after 10 seasons in the job.
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“That would be a bit unfair because there are some internal people that could do it if I’m not there, and they’re both very good friends of mine so I wouldn’t want to take either side,” Fagan told SEN on Monday.
“That’s something that the club will have to work out if that’s what occurs.
“I would be happy to talk … to the club about the kind of person that’s required and my ideas. But I figure, if I decide to go, it’s none of my business really.”
Brisbane football boss Danny Daly, who left a career in banking to join Collingwood in 2000 before stints at North Melbourne and Richmond, has confirmed a desire to become a senior coach.
He has previously knocked back interest from Gold Coast, Collingwood, Essendon, West Coast and Melbourne.
Fagan has been talking up backline coach Dale Morris, who suggested the idea of using Wharfie Time to motivate the Lions if the Dockers reached for the button in the grand final.
Daly also floated midfield coach Cam Bruce as another possible replacement while pointing to an increasing trend around the league for clubs to opt for young first-time assistant coaches.
Fagan admitted to attraction at being part of the Lions quest for a four-peat, a feat unseen in AFL/VFL history since Collingwood from 1927 to 1930.
“There’s a lure there,” he said.
“I mean it sounds pretty good. No one else has done it in AFL history.”
Brisbane chairman Andrew Wellington said the club planned to give Fagan a few days to soak in the Lions latest premiership glory and collect his thoughts before having a chat.
“It’s such a demanding job being a senior coach, and he knows that as long as he thinks he’s got the passion and the energy to coach, then it’s his job,” he said.
Trent Cotchin, a part-time mentor at Brisbane, noted Fagan was getting on in years but wanted him to coach on into an 11th season with the Lions.
“Every player that you speak to today would say the same thing,” the former Richmond skipper said.
“He’s very different to the coaches that I experienced. He’s just a special person and always willing to learn, which I think is a sign of a great leader.”
