Chris Fagan (coach)

Christian Fagan (born 23 June 1961)[2] is a former Australian rules footballer who is the senior coach of the Brisbane Lions in the Australian Football League (AFL).[3] He spent his entire playing career in Tasmania, playing 263 senior games with Hobart, Sandy Bay, and Devonport. Before being appointed head coach of Brisbane in October 2016, Fagan had spent long periods as an assistant coach at Melbourne (1999–2007) and Hawthorn (2008–2016).

Chris Fagan
Fagan in December 2016
Personal information
Full name Christian Fagan
Nickname(s) Fages
Date of birth (1961-06-23) 23 June 1961
Place of birth Queenstown, Tasmania[1]
Club information
Current club Brisbane Lions (head coach)
Coaching career3
Years Club Games (W–L–D)
2017– Brisbane Lions 142 (77–65–0)
3 Coaching statistics correct as of round 6, 2023.
Career highlights

Playing career

Fagan was born in Queenstown, Tasmania.[1] He played 263 senior games in the Tasmanian Australian National Football League (TANFL) and Tasmanian Football League (TFL) with Hobart, Sandy Bay and Devonport and kicked 430 goals in his career. He represented Tasmania on 11 occasions and played in two Premiership teams – Hobart in 1980 and Devonport in 1988.[4]

Coaching career

Tasmania

Fagan spent two years as an assistant coach at North Hobart before being appointed senior coach of Sandy Bay for 1993 and 1994. He was the inaugural coach of the Tassie Mariners from 1995 to 1997. He was the 181st person to be inducted into the Tasmanian Football Hall of Fame in 2007.[4]

Melbourne Football Club assistant coach (1999-2007)

Fagan was an assistant coach at the Melbourne Football Club under senior coach Neale Daniher between 1999 and 2007, during which the club reached the 2000 AFL Grand Final, where they lost to Essendon.[2]

Hawthorn Football Club assistant coach and general manager of football (2008-2016)

He served two roles at the Hawthorn Football Club between 2008 and 2016, where he was instrumental in the club's 2008, 2013, 2014 and 2015 premiership victories.[3] He was head of coaching and development between 2008 and mid-2013, while he was also the general manager of football alongside senior coach Alastair Clarkson between mid-2013 and the end of 2016.[5]

In September 2022, following his departure from the club, he was alleged to have been involved in the isolation and separation of indigenous players from their partners and families, allegations which came to light as part of an external review into historical racism commissioned by Hawthorn. Investigations into the allegations are ongoing.[6]

Brisbane Lions senior coach (2016–present)

On 4 October 2016, Fagan was appointed as the senior coach of the Brisbane Lions, replacing Justin Leppitsch.[7] He is one of the few AFL coaches appointed in recent years without AFL playing experience. Fagan took the Lions to the finals in his third season as coach and was subsequently honoured by the AFL Coaches Association with the 2019 Allan Jeans Senior Coach of the Year Award,[8] although the Lions fell short of expectations, succumbing to a heart-breaking three-point Semi-Final defeat to GWS at the Gabba. Fagan would then take the Lions to the finals in the subsequent 2020, 2021 and 2022 seasons, but did not reach the Grand Final in any of those seasons, falling short in two Preliminary Finals defeats, both to the Geelong Cats, and a Semi-Final defeat to the Western Bulldogs.

On the 4th of March, 2023, the Lions announced that Fagan had signed a contract extension that would keep him at the club until the 2025 season.

Head coaching record
Team Year Home and Away Season Finals
Won Lost Drew Win % Position Won Lost Win % Result
BRI 2017 5 17 0 .227 18th out of 18 - - - -
BRI 2018 5 17 0 .227 15th out of 18 - - - -
BRI 2019 16 6 0 .727 2nd out of 18 0 2 .000 Lost to Greater Western Sydney in Semi Final
BRI 2020 14 3 0 .824 2nd out of 18 1 1 .500 Lost to Geelong in Preliminary Final
BRI 2021 15 7 0 .681 4th out of 18 0 2 .000 Lost to Western Bulldogs in Semi Final
BRI 2022 15 7 0 .681 6th out of 18 2 1 .667 Lost to Geelong Cats in Preliminary Final
Total 70 57 0 .551 3 6 .333

[9]

Honours and achievements

Playing honours

Team

Individual

Coaching honours

Individual

References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chris Fagan (coach).
  1. "12 things you didn't know about new Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan". Herald Sun. News Corp Australia. 4 October 2016. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
  2. "AFL Coaches Association - Chris Fagan profile". AFL Coaches Association. Fox Sports Pulse. Retrieved 3 October 2016.
  3. Schmook, Nathan (3 October 2016). "EXCLUSIVE: Lions to appoint Chris Fagan as coach". AFL.com.au. Bigpond. Retrieved 3 October 2016.
  4. "181. Chris Fagan | AFL Tasmania Hall of Fame".
  5. Salemme, Kate (29 September 2016). "Sam Mitchell says Hawthorn football boss Chris Fagan brings stability, would be valuable to Lions". Herald Sun. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 3 October 2016.
  6. "Family separations and pregnancy termination: Hawthorn racism review reveals shock allegations against former coaches". ABC News. 20 September 2022. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
  7. "Brisbane Lions name Chris Fagan as Justin Leppitsch's replacement as head AFL coach". ABC News. 4 October 2016. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  8. Beveridge, Riley. "Five wins one year, 16 the next? That's Coach of the Year stuff". AFL.com.au. Retrieved 24 September 2019.
  9. "AFL Tables - Chris Fagan - Coaching Record". afltables.com. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
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