{"id":918169,"date":"2026-10-06T12:40:10","date_gmt":"2026-10-06T12:40:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/918169\/"},"modified":"2026-10-06T12:40:10","modified_gmt":"2026-10-06T12:40:10","slug":"afl-news-brisbane-lions-set-to-make-stunning-nathan-buckley-move-after-chris-fagans-exit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/918169\/","title":{"rendered":"AFL news: Brisbane Lions set to make stunning Nathan Buckley move after Chris Fagan\u2019s exit"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Brisbane Lions are reportedly seriously considering making a move for Nathan Buckley as they prepare for life after Chris Fagan.<\/p>\n

Fagan stepped down as Brisbane coach after a thrilling seven-point Grand Final win over Fremantle clinched a rare premiership three-peat.<\/p>\n

The 65-year-old had a year left on his deal at Brisbane but decided to leave on a high.<\/p>\n

And now, AFL Media\u2019s Damian Barrett revealed the Lions \u201care contemplating an approach\u201d to Buckley after identifying him as a possible Fagan successor. <\/p>\n

Buckley played the first season of his 15-year playing career at the Brisbane Bears before departing for Collingwood, where he would become a Pies legend.<\/p>\n

Buckley has voiced his desire to again be a head coach and he is set to rival Lions head of football Danny Daly and assistant coach Cam Bruce for the Lions top job. <\/p>\n

The Lions\u2019 interest in Buckley comes after he withdrew from the race to become North Melbourne\u2019s next senior coach.<\/p>\n

Buckley, who is currently an assistant coach at Geelong, led the Magpies for 218 matches before stepping down.<\/p>\n

And he recently revealed that his hunger to return as a head coach is well and truly back. <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve determined 12 months ago that I\u2019d love to senior coach again, and I love the role at Geelong,\u201d Buckley said on Fox Footy\u2019s On The Couch, speaking about the interest from North.<\/p>\n

\u201cI really respect the way North have handled this, and they\u2019ve kept things really tight.\u201d<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, the Blues are said to be ready to swoop on Fagan, as he prepares to move back to Victoria to be closer to family.<\/p>\n

Fagan made it clear he wants to remain in the football industry and possibly return to Melbourne, where he was previously an assistant under Neale Daniher at the Demons and served as GM of football and as a coaching mentor alongside Alastair Clarkson at Hawthorn.<\/p>\n

Those comments have prompted clubs such as Carlton to inquire about whether Fagan would serve in a role supporting Josh Fraser, who replaced Michael Voss as interim coach before being appointed Carlton\u2019s full-time coach.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen someone like Chris Fagan leaves his club and says he wants to come back to Melbourne, you\u2019d be derelict in your duty if you weren\u2019t open to what that might look like,\u201d Carlton general manager of football Chris Davies said on Monday as the AFL Trade Period got underway.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s not just Chris, that\u2019s other people in the market as well. We\u2019ve definitely got to put some support around Josh, what we think is the best support for Josh into the future and we\u2019ll continue to work on that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"'Like<\/p>\n

Davies joked the Blues would consider giving up a first-round pick for Fagan.<\/p>\n

Speaking on Kayo Sports\u2019 Trading Day, 1988 Brownlow Medallist Gerard Healy said: \u201cIs Carlton about to land the biggest name of the trade period? <\/p>\n

\u201cI would be staggered, based on what Chris Davies said, if Carlton aren\u2019t right at the front of the queue. And I reckon there\u2019d be more than one club looking at Chris Fagan.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe says he wants to work in footy. He doesn\u2019t want to retire. Just doesn\u2019t want to be head coach.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve got a young head coach at the Blues, there are other young coaches out there, which probably gives you an indication of who else is lining up. <\/p>\n

\u201cFancy having the capacity to bring Chris Fagan into your program if you\u2019re the Blues, with Josh Fraser coming into really his first full season.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Blues<\/p>\n

Former Hawks forward Ben Dixon said: \u201cI was lucky enough to spend some time with Fages when he was at Hawthorn mentoring, nurturing and cooling down Clarko (Alastair Clarkson) at times. <\/p>\n

\u201cI think he\u2019d be an amazing addition for Josh Fraser.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Herald Sun\u2019s Jon Ralph said Carlton could create a \u201cbespoke role\u201d for Fagan that doesn\u2019t involve the rigours of the football manager job.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe football boss role, it\u2019s so important but it\u2019s the worst role in football,\u201d Ralph said.<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause you have a million calls, you never turn your phone off, there\u2019s always something you don\u2019t expect. Is it a Neil Balme role, a big bopper, a coach\u2019s coach.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fraser led Carlton to 12 wins, a draw and three losses as the Blues completely turned around their form in the second half of the season to qualify for the AFL\u2019s wildcard round, in which they beat the Demons.<\/p>\n

Read related topics:Brisbane<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Brisbane Lions are reportedly seriously considering making a move for Nathan Buckley as they prepare for 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