Brisbane coach’s class act on Grand Final dais goes viral

Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan showed exactly why he was all the talk after the AFL Grand Final with an act of sheer class.

Chris Fagan was a proud papa bear. Photo Fox Footy.

Chris Fagan showed he is all class when he got his chance to take centre stage at the AFL Grand Final — and knocked it back.

The Lions coach was all his players wanted to talk about after the final siren sounded on their emphatic 60-point thumping of the Swans on Saturday.

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The 63-year-old became the oldest coach to ever win an AFL premiership — and also the only premiership-winning coach in the modern era to have never played at the top level.

There was one particular moment that is receiving plenty of attention when he was left looking slightly out of place when Brisbane players rushed onto the dais during the post-game medal ceremony.

Fagan had earlier broken with tradition by calling up former captain Dayne Zorko onto the stage to stand with co-captain’s Lachie Neale and Harris Andrews when former Brisbane premiership coach Leigh Matthews was about to present the premiership cup.

Chris Fagan was a proud papa bear. Photo Fox Footy.

Chris Fagan called Dayne Zorko up on the stage. Photo: Channel 7.

The moment. Picture Lachie Millard.

Instead of having one hand on the cup as it was raised, Fagan gave the honour to his trio of leaders and stood to the side.

The proud coach continued to hover on the side of the stage as yahooing players posed for the cameras as a premiership team for the first time.

Neale eventually spotted his mentor and wrapped his arm around him.

It was a special moment for a special team.

Sport reporter Mark Gottlieb wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter: “I’m so glad @DayneZorko got this moment. No one deserved it more.

“Incredible class from Chris Fagan to do this.”

Chris Fagan is me at every party ever. #AFLGFpic.twitter.com/iHUYUxaEo3

— David Zita (@DavidZita1) September 28, 2024

Find yourself someone that looks at you like Chris Fagan does to his players ❤️ pic.twitter.com/7fNxxamQvC

— AFL (@AFL) September 28, 2024

Earlier, Zorko appeared genuinely touched as he was given the surprise call up to stand alongside Neale and Andrews.

It showed why the former Hawthorn footy administrator is so loved by his troops.

SEN footy radio producer John Donohoe posted on X: “Chris Fagan is honestly the most loveable coach. Look at the joy on his face.

“You can’t not like him. This is one for the good guys, for sure.

“The Lions from nowhere, a well deserved Flag!”

Former Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett also wrote: “Except for the Sydney supporters and players, noone will begrudge Chris Fagan and the Lions their win in the AFL Grand Final.

“While a team effort by coaches, staff and players, Chris Fagan is one of society’s most decent individuals with wonderful personal values.

“I salute U Chris.”

Fagan let the emotions go when he came down from the coach’s box to enjoy the fourth quarter standing in front of his team’s bench.

As the siren sounded, cameras caught the moment Fagan and Matthews embraced with Fagan coming out of the hug a blubbering mess.

Chris Fagan and Leigh Matthews in tears. Photo: Fox Footy.

“Look at Chris Fagan,” Seven caller James Brayshaw said in reaction to the footage.

“It (the emotion) boils over for this magnificent man.”

Meanwhile, Zorko revealed after the game that Fagan had promised him he would lift the premiership trophy if the team won a grand final, having captained the team from 2018 to 2022.

“Me and Fages came on this journey… we experienced the lows and the highs (together),” Zorko told 3AW post-match.

“Fages came up to me and said: ‘You’re going up on stage, and you deserve this more than anyone.

“I’m so honoured that he allowed me to get up there and hold the cup with those two absolute legends (Lachie Neale and Harris Andrews).

“He actually promised me about two years ago when I handed the captaincy over and said ‘if we ever win it, you’ll be the first person up there’. He stuck by his word on that, and that’s the sort of guy he is.”

Chris Fagan’s face said it all. Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images.

Chris Fagan got the Super Bowl coach treatment. Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Fagan was all class in his post-match speech when praising the Swans on their season.

“We’ve been there (on the losing side of a grand final) before,” he said on the premiership dais at the home of football.

“You’re one of the clubs that we’ve modelled ourselves on, to be honest, and we have enormous respect for you, and we know you’re going to bounce back well next year — congratulations on your season.”

Shifting the focus to his victorious troops and the wider club, Fagan spoke from the heart.

“Somehow, a team who finished fifth on the ladder and had to play every week has managed to win the flag,” he said.

“To everybody at my football club — the board, all the football department, the coaching group, the fitness crew — there’s so many people to mention but you know that every single person in our football club is important to us, and you’re all a part of what we’ve done today.

“To the players, what a group of footballers you are. You showed enormous resilience during this season.

“At one stage, we were 13th and things weren’t looking good, but you found a way, and I’m so proud of you, and we’re going to have some fun together over the next few days, so well done, boys.

“What a day.”