Chris Fagan to coach Brisbane Lions, faces immediate trade decisions

CHRIS Fagan will be unveiled as Brisbane coach today and he’ll be immediately in the hot seat with Gold Coast on Monday making a play for Pearce Hanley.

A dejected Pearce Hanley. Pic: Jono Searle

CHRIS Fagan will on Tuesday be handed a mandate to rebuild the Lions’ culture.

And he will be immediately in the hot seat with the Gold Coast Suns on Monday making a play for troubled gamebreaker Pearce Hanley.

The Brisbane Lions have announced a press conference at midday (1pm EST) to unveil the Hawks footy boss as the replacement for sacked coach Justin Leppitsch.

Fagan must make a quick decision whether he believes the Lions’ restoration can be achieved with Hanley and captain Tom Rockliff.

The 55-year-old’s experience within Hawthorn’s premiership machine and his expertise in developing coaches and players will be critical in bringing harmony and discipline to an underperforming playing group that has disintegrated into a rudderless rabble and is crying out for some leadership.

To date Fagan has only met with the coaching selection panel who have recommended him as the next coach to the club’s board.

Chris Fagan will be unveiled as Brisbane’s new coach on Tuesday. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

He will be presented to the board for the first time on Tuesday morning where his appointment will be ratified.

Fagan was first interviewed by Brisbane Lions’ CEO Greg Swann and list manager Peter Schwab two weeks ago in Melbourne and made a secondary presentation to the selection panel that included new football boss David Noble and triple premiership star Simon Black early last week.

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He came highly recommended by AFL football boss Mark Evans, a former colleague at the Hawks.

The Lions want Fagan to represent the club at Thursday’s draft combine.

Brisbane see the draft as the way to drag themselves out of their seven years of misery.

They are already in possession of selection No.2 and expect to receive a favourable vote from the AFL commission on their request for a priority pick.

Pearce Hanley could be up for trade. Picture: Jono Searle

They can bolster their draft position further in deals for Hanley and Rockliff.

One of the Fagan’s first duties will be to make a decision with Noble and Schwab over the future of Hanley.

The Gold Coast met with the Lion’s management group on Monday.

Hanley’s manager Paul Connors has declared his client would be proud to run out for the Lions in Round 1 next year but admitted if the right offer came along they would look at it.

Hanley looked disinterested at Brisbane this year and there have been question marks over his professionalism, but he is a potential star of the competition as the Suns know only two well given the Irishman’s peerless record in QClashes.

Magpie Jarrod Witts could be on his way to the Suns. Picture: Michael Klein

They believe he can blossom on the Coast.

However, Brisbane may also believe Fagan, who is known as an excellent people manager and communicator, can also get the best out of the dashing midfielder.

The Suns are also hopeful of striking a deal that would see Collingwood big man Jarrod Witts continue his career on the Coast.

They are also interested in Western Bulldogs midfielder Lin Jong.

Originally published as Chris Fagan to coach Brisbane Lions, faces immediate trade decisions