Brisbane’s band of never-say-die AFL champions have been given a hero’s welcome in their home city, with the warmest reception reserved for Chris Fagan.
The humble Lions coach remained the centre of attention on Tuesday at a fan day event following Brisbane’s win over Fremantle in the grand final.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Brisbane Lions celebrate historic three-peat at Riverstage
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It marked Brisbane’s second three-peat this century, matching the club’s 2001, 2002 and 2003 flags under coach Leigh Matthews.
With the 2024, 2025 and 2026 premiership cups in tow, players proudly donned their premiership medals and signed autographs for supporters.
A huge cheer went up for young key forward Logan Morris, who kicked two clutch goals in the final minutes.
Fagan was presented with the keys to the city by Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner after shaking hands with Queensland premier David Crisafulli.
Brisbane coach Chris Fagan has been handed the keys to city after overseeing the Lions’ third title. Credit: AAP
“It was an amazing day, wasn’t it? Just when we thought we were going to lose, we won,” Fagan told the throngs of Lions fans at Riverstage in the City Botanic Gardens.
“As hard as that is it’s the most exciting way to win, and credit for the victory goes to all the boys standing here on my right.”
A chant of “one more year” – the same refrain deployed during the Lions’ Victorian family day at Brunswick St Oval on Sunday – went up as the 65-year-old accepted honour.
Fagan has a year to run on his contract but has publicly acknowledged he is weighing up whether to continue into an 11th season as Brisbane coach.
Club executives intend to speak with Fagan, who also considered stepping down at the end of the previous two seasons, after premiership celebrations die down.
“If I don’t coach again, I want to stay in footy in some way, shape or form,” Fagan told Fox Footy’s AFL 360.
“It’s more just being the head coach and having that responsibility all the time is the thing that weighs on you.
“If I don’t continue with Brisbane, I think I’ll move back to Melbourne to be around my daughters, sons-in-laws and the grandkids.”
Co-captains show off the three-peat. Credit: AAP
Michael Voss, captain of the Lions’ first three-peat side, has suggested the club could allow Fagan to go on leave until January to entice him to extend his coaching career.
“That will all go into the melting pot of his decision,” the former Carlton coach told AFL Trade Radio.
“We’re reading body language and we’re trying to interpret language … but it does feel like we’re being conditioned (for this) to go a certain way, and that’s to step away.
“So it seems like his mind’s going to have be changed on that.”
Voss and Matthews were presented with the keys to the city when the honour was bestowed on the Brisbane Lions following the first of their three successive flags in 2001.
Matthews was awarded his own individual version after retiring from coaching in 2008.
Other individual Brisbane keys to the city recipients include Pat Rafter (tennis), Mick Doohan (motorcycle road racing), Steven Bradbury (short-track speed skating), Darren Lockyer (rugby league), Jeff Horn (boxing) and Cameron Smith (rugby league).
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