Chris Fagan will coach his 100th AFL game on Saturday when the Lions take on North Melbourne in Tasmania.
The much loved Senior Coach has been the architect of a major reversal of fortune for the Club since taking the reins at the end of 2016.
In the four years that have followed, Fages has transformed the Lions from a Club battered by a decade-long period of poor results into a flag-contending outfit strong enough to make opposing teams quake.
Along the way, he has revived Queensland’s interest in the game of AFL and inspired a new generation of Lions supporters, with the club now boasting a record membership base of just a tick shy of 40,000.
As Fages notches up this impressive number at Blundstone Arena, let’s take a look at the big numbers that form his career.
1
Current AFL Coaches who never played at AFL level.
While every other Coach has played the great game at Senior level, Fages had to work his way up, first beginning as an Assistant Coach at North Hobart in 1993.
“I am still flabbergasted they made the decision to give a bloke like me who hasn’t coached a team which was on its knees almost,” Fagan said.
“I still have days when I think I am very lucky those fellas are listening to me because I was nowhere near as good a footballer as they are.”
3
The years it took Fages to bring Brisbane back into finals after nine years of missing out.
After our unforgettable three-peat in 2001, the Lions only made finals once in 14 years until Fages arrived and steered the Club to consecutive finals appearances in 2020 – 21.
4
Premierships won with Hawthorn Football Club in 2008, 2013, 2014 and 2015.
Fages moved from Head of Coaching and Development to General Manager of Football where he coached current Lions defender Grant Birchall in Hawthorn colours.
“He’s a really loved figure in the footy club. He was always a deep thinker, coming up with different ideas and strategies,” said Birchall.
“To win another premiership with Fagan would be an amazing story to transform a club after being at the bottom at the club for so long.”
60
How old Fages turns in two weeks’ time.
Australian Test Captain Tim Paine looked to Fages when embarking on his own leadership journey and found the fellow Tasmanian a source of great inspiration.
"He has had an amazing career - he has been a general manager and an assistant but to be coaching his 100th game at age 60 is a journey I have looked at,” Paine said.
“I think there is a blueprint there for coaches. He has been fantastic for me. He rings me occasionally and I have spent time with the Lions and it was amazing to see his connection with his players. I can see how they turned that place around really quickly and I think they will be hard to beat for a number of years while he is at the helm.''
98
98 - 96 was the score of Fages’ thilling first win with the Lions in a season-opening QClash win against the Suns in 2017.
181
In 2007, Fages was the 181st person to be inducted into the Tasmanian Football Hall of Fame. And for good reason…
263
Games Fages played in his home State, Tasmania.
He was a gun in his own State, kicking 430 goals for Hobart, Sandy Bay and Devonport, and winning two best-and-fairests and a Premiership with Devonport in 1988.
1998
The year Fages was picked to be Melbourne Reserves coach by Neale Daniher, the well-known uncle to Lions’ star forward Joe Daniher.
After this role, Fagan went on to assist Daniher in his Senior Coaching role at Melbourne for the next five years.
“Finding Chris Fagan was the best recruiting decision I made in all my time at Melbourne,” Neale Daniher told The Age in 2014.
2017
Fages makes the move to Brisbane in his first position as Senior Coach.
2019
And promptly wins the Allan Jeanes Senior Coach of the Year Award.
After bringing the Lions back into finals in only his third year as Senior Coach, Fages is recognised as the best performing Senior Coach of the 2019 home and away season.
7467
Queenstown’s postcode and Fages’ hometown.
Fagan grew up in the chilly west coast of Tasmania where he first dreamt of teaching.
Continuing the family feeling of the Lions’ Club, Fages was once coached by Birchall’s grandfather.
