AFL Grand Final week for Brisbane’s Chris Fagan has become that little bit sweeter, after being voted the Allan Jeans Senior Coach of the Year for 2024.
Fagan claims the award for the second time in his eight-year career at the Lions, having previously won in 2019 after taking his side to a semi-final just 12 months after finishing 15th on the ladder.
The 63-year-old has faced a similar level of adversity this season as he did in that 2018 season, after his side started the season with three straight losses – not winning until Round 4 against North Melbourne in Gather Round.
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But even then, it wasn’t until Round 8 that his side truly hit the ground running, remarkably coming from a 2-5 win-loss record to now make their second consecutive grand final.
Fagan’s efforts this season pipped that of rival grand final coach John Longmire at Sydney, as well as that of Hawks coach Sam Mitchell who rounded out the podium.
2024 ALLAN JEANS SENIOR COACH OF THE YEAR
1. CHRIS FAGAN – BRISBANE LIONS – 272 VOTES
2. JOHN LONGMIRE – SYDNEY SWANS – 209 VOTES
3. SAM MITCHELL – HAWTHORN – 161 VOTES
Each coach votes with the Brownlow-style system after every round in a 3-2-1 fashion.
In an AFL Coaches Association media release, Fagan was humble in his acceptance of the award – quick to point out the efforts of the team around him.
“Being the recipient of the 2024 AFLCA Coach of the Year Award is a great honour,” Fagan said.
“I view it as recognition for everyone who is part of the coaching team at the Brisbane Lions – Cam Bruce, Murray Davis, Dale Morris, Scott Borlace, Ben Hudson, Daniel Lloyd and our GM of Football Danny Daly.
“Coaching an AFL team is a collective effort and the Senior Coach at all clubs requires the support and expertise of their assistant & development coaches to deliver a quality program to our players. I’m incredibly grateful to all these men for what they do to help me.
“I would also like to thank our players for their efforts – without doubt they make us coaches look better than we are at times.
The Lions finished fifth on the ladder this year with a win-loss record of 14-1-8, and have been forced to take the long route to the big dance with no second chance.
A comfortable win over Carlton in their elimination final took them to western Sydney, where they miraculously came back from 44 points down against GWS to make the final four.
His side pulled off yet another come-from-behind victory last Saturday evening to confirm their place this year’s grand final, coming up 10-point victors over Geelong on the road at the MCG.
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“Coaching is full of interesting & unique challenges but overall is an immensely rewarding job,” Fagan continued in his statement.
“I’m thankful to the Brisbane Lions hierarchy for showing faith in an old bloke like me to be their Senior Coach 8 years ago. It’s been a fun ride and I’m very proud of the consistent club we have become.
“To be recognised by my peers in this way is something I didn’t truly expect but it is something I’m very proud of.
“Congratulations to all coaches at every AFL Club. This season has been more competitive and hard-fought than ever and the
general public have been entertained to the max.
AFLCA CEO Alistair Nicholson was glowing of Fagan in the same statement, highlight his leadership that has shone through from a young age.
“Since being appointed as the AFL Reserves coach at Melbourne in 1998, ‘Fages’ has had a huge impact on the many people he has coached in the AFL,” Nicholson said.
“While his care and connection are well known, it is his resilience and leadership that have shone through in recent times, and he has continued to be true to himself while performing at the top level.
Of all winners since the start of last decade, only three (Mick Malthouse, John Worsfold and Nathan Buckley) are not currently the head coach of an AFL club.
List of winners since 2010:
2010: Mick Malthouse (Collingwood)
2011: John Worsfold (West Coast)
2012: John Longmire (Sydney)
2013: Ken Hinkley (Port Adelaide)
2014: John Longmire (Sydney)
2015: Luke Beveridge (Western Bulldogs)
2016: Luke Beveridge (Western Bulldogs)
2017: Damien Hardwick (Richmond
2018: Nathan Buckley (Collingwood)
2019: Chris Fagan (Brisbane)
2020: Ken Hinkley (Port Adelaide)
2021: Simon Goodwin (Melbourne)
2022: Craig McRae (Collingwood)
2023: Adam Kingsley (GWS)
2204: Chris Fagan (Brisbane)
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