Brisbane turns out to laud the Lions after premiership victory

Hundreds of Brisbane Lions supporters have gathered in the CBD to welcome home their premiership-winning heroes.

The pop-up Brisbane Lions Premiership Party in Queens Gardens was hosted by Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner.

But amid the jubilation, Schrinner’s speech was interrupted by a fan suggesting a new stadium should be on the cards following the Lions’ victory.

Coach Chris Fagan (far left) joins the Brisbane Lions on stage at the Premiership Party in Queens Gardens.Credit: Kristen Camp

“What we can give them now is love and respect ...” the lord mayor said before a fan yelled “and a new stadium”, to which Schrinner replied “… and a new stadium”.

“I think that’s the mic-drop moment,” he said.

The homecoming coincided with the start of the Queensland election campaign, with the fate of the Gabba – the Lions’ homeground – still up in the air.

Hundreds – if not thousands – turned out to greet the Brisbane Lions at Queens Garden on Tuesday.Credit: Kristen Camp

Schrinner made light of coach Chris Fagan’s serious demeanour at Saturday’s game, but Fagan assured the crowd he was “the happiest man in Australia”.

“I could not believe all the way through the game, not a single smile on his face – he was focused, he was determined, wanted to bring it home – but look at this smile now,” Schrinner said.

“There was one point where the Lions were 13th on the ladder. We believed, and look at what they have delivered to make our city great.”

Fagan then told the large crowd he was “getting happier every day”.

“The more I think about it and what we’ve done this year, what else can I do really than get happier?

“It’s been a brilliant effort by this group of players … it’s sort of historical to come from that far back on the ladder. That moment when we held the [premiership] cup up on Saturday, [I’ll] never forget it.”

The Lions coach also let fans in on what AFL legend and three-time-premiership-winning coach Leigh Matthews said to him the moment they embraced as the buzzer went off.

“Leigh just told me that he always thought I’d be premiership coach, which was amazing. He said the players pulled their fingers out and got the job done for you,” Fagan said.

Leigh Matthews embraces Chris Fagan after Saturday’s victory. Credit: Joe Armao

The Lions’ celebrations have been in full swing since they thrashed the Sydney Swans on Saturday at the MCG, with the team dressing up in costumes yesterday for a Mad Monday bar crawl across the city.

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