The throne is bare.

One day out from ten years since being appointed head coach of a then-dysfunctional and dispirited Brisbane, Chris Fagan departs as a triple-premiership Lions immortal.

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The 65-year old’s resignation, coming less than a week after orchestrating an extraordinary Grand Final comeback win over Fremantle for their third successive flag, had been widely speculated in the days leading into the decider.

In its aftermath, Fagan told AFL 360 on Monday he would “have a good think” about whether he had the energy to coach for an 11th season in 2027.

The Lions, who had been keen on their patriarch continuing, now face a curly question in replacing him.

At the front of the queue are two long-term Fagan disciples whose elevation would ensure a straightforward transition, in a similar vein to John Longmire’s Sydney coaching handover to Dean Cox in late 2024.

But with highly rated assistants from around the AFL – and several decorated former coaches also in the frame – the Lions are spoiled for choice in what would be the best job in decades, with the Herald Sun reporting the club will thoroughly assess all its options.

Should they look externally, the three-time reigning premiers could throw a spanner in the works of North Melbourne’s coach hunt, as the Kangaroos narrow their search to five leading candidates to replace Alastair Clarkson.

Foxfooty.com.au profiles the 15 major contenders the Lions should consider – including a shock left-field option that would rock the football world to its core.

Danny Daly

The nature of Fagan’s departure – and the incredible position of strength the club is in – lends itself to an internal appointment. Front of the queue in that regard is Daly, whose coaching background can only be described as Fagan-esque. Having never played a senior game, he earned his standing at the Lions after decades in a variety of different roles in stints at Collingwood, North Melbourne and Richmond. Brisbane’s General Manager of football since late 2020, the 54-year old has emerged in the last two years as a coach in waiting, having declined an offer from West Coast in 2024 to be part of their search to replace Adam Simpson, then doing likewise with Melbourne last year. Fagan has given Daly his endorsement, telling Nine this week: “He certainly could do it … he’s a terrific coach in his own right”. Daly himself told SENon Grand Final day that “there is a little bit of a desire” to coach, but that he would be “happy with whatever (the club) decide”.

Danny Daly embraces Chris Fagan after the Picture: Michael KleinSource: News Corp Australia

Cameron Bruce

Speaking with SEN, Daly named Bruce as a potential alternative candidate if the Lions wish to appoint from within. The 47-year old had a more conventional pathway through to being in charge of Brisbane’s all-conquering midfield, having transitioned into coaching after his 234-game AFL career with Melbourne and Hawthorn ended in 2012. Remarkably, he has been involved in six of the last 14 AFL premierships, having coached at the Hawks during their own three-peat from 2013-15 before joining the Lions in late 2011 as midfield coach. The 2025 AFL Coaches Association Assistant Coach of the Year award, Bruce’s glittering resume – and being at the forefront of the club’s Grand Final on-ball blitz to snatch the premiership off the Dockers – gives him a strong claim. Rejected an offer to be part of Carlton’s coach hunt earlier this year, citing a desire to stay in Queensland.

Dale Morris

The man credited with inspiring the plan to turn ‘Wharfie Time’ against the Dockers in the Grand Final. “I’m not taking the credit for that idea because the bloke who suggested it to me was our backline coach Dale Morris,” Fagan said post-match. Having started with the Lions as a development coach in late 2022, following on from a similar role at former club the Western Bulldogs, Morris was promoted to be the club’s backline coach for the 2024 season. The 43-year old even took the reins for a pre-season match simulation against Carlton earlier this year. In his playing days, was a 253-game defender and part of the Bulldogs’ drought-breaking 2016 premiership.

Hearbtreak as ‘Wharfie-time’ backfires | 11:29

David Hale

One of the leading candidates for the North Melbourne job, alongside Jaymie Graham, Nathan Buckley, Daniel Giansiracusa and North assistant Xavier Clarke, Hale has served as an assistant at both Fremantle and Hawthorn. He has been at the Hawks since 2022 after being headhunted by new coach Sam Mitchell. A mark in his favour is having works as forwards and midfield assistant roles under Mitchell, as well as head of strategy and opposition in 2026. The ex-triple Hawks premiership ruckman’s coaching versatility has emerged as a left-field option for the Kangaroos, where he played 129 of his 237 senior games. Former Hawk Tom Mitchell told SEN this week Hale “brought some really cool things across from Fremantle” when he returned to the club.

Daniel Giansiracusa

Long one of the AFL’s most highly rated assistants, the former Bulldog narrowly missed out on the Melbourne job in late 2025. AFL Media’s Cal Twomey reported earlier this year that his off-season switch from Essendon to Hawthorn came after being told by the Demons that staying at the struggling Bombers would cause problems for his senior coaching ambitions. The 44-year old played 265 games at the Bulldogs, including as a playing coach and regular substitute in his final seasons. He was part of the Bulldogs’ 2016 premiership as forwards coach, while also briefly working as Footscray’s VFL coach during the COVID years. Having missed out on several senior positions in recent years, the 2020 AFL Coaches Association Assistant Coach of the Year is another in the running for the Kangaroos job, though it’s believed Graham and Buckley are ahead of him in the queue.

Fremantle assistant Jaymie Graham has been a leading contender in a number of recent senior coach searches. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

Jaymie Graham

Having narrowly missed out on top jobs at Carlton and Essendon already this year, Graham’s coaching credentials – and outstanding pedigree – have been well documented throughout 2026. The highly touted Fremantle assistant interviewed exceptionally well with the Blues and Bombers, and has emerged as “one of the frontrunners, if not the frontrunner” for the vacant North Melbourne job, according to SEN’s Tom Morris. But Morris also reported Buckley is “up to his eyeballs” in the Kangaroos’ process. Having already showed his willingness to move away from Perth, Graham appears the leading candidate from outside the Lions … if the club opts to go down that route. And at worst, any interest from Queensland can only help improve his chances of winning the Roos race.

Corey Enright

Enright’s recent appointment as Geelong assistant coach after a lengthy stint with St Kilda certainly doesn’t disqualify him from going at a senior coaching position elsewhere. However, the six-time All-Australian defender and highly credentialed assistant missed the final cut for the North Melbourne job. Enright had been long linked to a coaching handover with Ross Lyon at the Saints, but that never eventuated before his return to the Cats. The 45-year old has been a man in demand this year, running deep in the race for the Carlton coaching position eventually won by caretaker Josh Fraser, while also being approached by Collingwood for an assistant position.

James Rahilly

Geelong great Cameron Mooney told Kayo Sports’ AFL Tonight earlier this year that the Cats assistant is “ready to go” as a senior coach. Notably, the 47-year old, who has been the Cats’ forward assistant for the last three years following a stint with Adelaide, is renowned as an “absolute gun in terms of ball movement”, according to SEN’s Tom Morris. That trait would suit the slick, free-wheeling Lions to a tee – and having been involved in the Blues’ coach search earlier this year, he’s certainly not a candidate coming out of left field.

Murray Davis, pictured here with Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks (L) is highly rated as a future coach in waiting. (Photo by Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

Murray Davis

Another with a Fagan and Daly-style unconventional background, Davis emerged as a potential coach after being sounded out during Essendon’s search to replace Brad Scott earlier this year. The Adelaide coaching director has said he would “certainly put my hand up again” should another club wish to include him in their process. Davis is well known to everyone at the Lions, having been an assistant coach for 13 seasons before departing for the Crows immediately after their 2024 premiership success. He helped the Crows rise from outside the finals to the minor premiership in his first year at the club, too. Partner Breeanna Brock was also the Lions’ Head of Women’s Football before following Davis into an identical position at the Crows.

Hayden Skipworth

Long linked to a number of vacant coaching roles, the veteran assistant, currently at Collingwood, has said any future coaching ambitions would need to be “a good fit for me”. He’ll struggle to find a better fit than the Lions! Craig McRae’s right-hand man is being keenly pursued by Essendon to be part of Mark McVeigh’s inaugural coaching team. He was previously among the frontrunners to replace Simon Goodwin as Melbourne coach last year, only to rule himself out of the process early on. In 2024, he was shortlisted to coach West Coast following Adam Simpson’s departure, but lost out to Andrew McQualter.

James Kelly

The Geelong assistant has emerged as a senior coach of the future in 2026, having made it to the closing stages of both Carlton and Essendon’s coach searches. A triple-premiership Cats great, the 42-year old has publicly expressed his keenness to take the top job at AFL level should an opportunity open up. Kelly admitted to doing some soul-searching after missing out on the Demons job to fellow Cats assistant Steven King last year. He has spent the last five years working under Chris Scott at the Cats – an ideal apprenticeship for a coach in waiting.

Adam Simpson coached West Coast from 2014 to 2024. (Photo by Daniel Carson via Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

Adam Simpson

The former West Coast premiership coach was a leading contender to return to old side North Melbourne immediately after Clarkson’s sacking, but after speaking with football general manager Todd Viney and CEO Jennifer Watt, declared it was “probably not going to work for me this time around”. The Roos’ own declaration that “the club needs a coach who can coach for the modern game” may have counted against Simpson, who has worked in various media roles including with Fox Footy since departing the Eagles in 2024. He also served in a consultancy role at Carlton during the season. The link to the Kangaroos, where he captained the club and played 306 games, including two premierships, made him an obvious candidate for that position. As a flag-winning coach, he looks the pick of those with experience should the Lions consider going down that route to replace Fagan.

Buckley on what he loves about North | 02:19

Nathan Buckley

A leading candidate alongside Graham for the North Melbourne position, Buckley was also narrowly pipped by King to coach Melbourne last year, as well as by Ken Hinkley to be Tasmania’s inaugural coach. Having re-entered the AFL world as a Geelong assistant in 2026 after transitioning into the media following his departure from a ten-season stint at the helm at Collingwood in 2021, the 54-year old has made his desire to coach again clear. “I’d still think that there’s another go around as a senior coach, and I’ve got a fair bit to offer,” Buckley told Kayo Sports’ On the Couch on Monday regarding his interest in the Kangaroos job. There would be more than a touch of irony in the unlikely event Buckley ends up at Brisbane: he was famously drafted by the Bears and won the 1993 AFL Rising Star award, but had come to an arrangement with the club that he would only serve one year before being traded to the Magpies.

Simon Goodwin

Unlike Buckley and Simpson, Goodwin, Melbourne’s 2021 premiership coach, is yet to be strongly sounded out about a return to senior coaching since being sacked by the Demons late last season. He told the Sydney Morning Herald earlier this year that he believes “at some stage” he would like to be a senior coach again. And while his time at the Dees ended ignominiously, the Lions’ list would be a more than tantalising second chance. Hailed throughout his time at Melbourne for the team’s defensive steel, he’d be ideally suited to address the three-time reigning premiers’ most obvious weakness – the ability of opposition teams to score heavily on them. It was that that led Champion Data analyst Daniel Hoyne to famously declare they were a “one in 100” chance at winning the premiership earlier this year, after all.

Could Chris Scott be a contender to coach Brisbane? (Photo by Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

Chris Scott

Two years on from Fox Footy expert David King urging the Lions to move Fagan on to make a play at the Cats coach, Scott has again been linked to the Lions job. It would be a stunning appointment, less than a year on from extending his Geelong contract through to the end of 2029. Ex-Cats captain Joel Selwood was questioned about the rumour the Lions could “poach” Scott on 3AW’s Footy Fix this week, saying that “funnier things have happened” than the Lions nabbing the former two-time Brisbane premiership player. With two premierships and a VFL/AFL record 68.2% win rate from 385 matches at the helm, any potential Scott appointment would be more in the realm of a Ross Lyon to Fremantle-style headhunt … if the Lions wish to go down that path, and if the 5o-year old himself is seeking a sea change after 16 seasons at the Cattery.