FAGAN THE FINEST:
LIONS COACH CLAIMS BACK-TO-BACK AFLCA SENIOR COACH OF THE YEAR AWARDS
Brisbane Lions coach CHRIS FAGAN has affirmed his status as one of the AFL’s supreme coaches, taking out the prestigious 2025 Monjon Allan Jeans Senior Coach of the Year Award for the second-straight season on Tuesday night.
Fagan polled a total of 305 total votes, securing the award ahead of Grand Final opponent Chris Scott (245 votes) and Adelaide’s Matthew Nicks (128) who led his side from 15th on the ladder in 2024 to minor premier at the end of this year’s home and away season.
After a pulsating preliminary final victory over Collingwood on Saturday, Fagan returned his side to their third successive Grand Final appearance with the Lions looking to claim back-to-back premierships against Geelong this weekend.
“It’s a great honour to be voted by my peers as the 2025 AFLCA Allan Jeans Senior Coach of the Year,” Fagan said.
“I’m part of a committed team of Coaches and support staff at the Lions who strive to deliver a high-quality program on a daily basis to bring out the best in our players.
“The energy and expertise that our coaches bring to their roles has been pivotal to our consistency and success as a team. I know it’s my name that goes on the trophy, but in reality, it’s the work of the coaching group that matters most and so I accept this award on behalf of everyone who works in our Football Department at the Lions.
“I also want to recognise and thank the players for their efforts. The main responsibility for performance sits on their shoulders. The players at the Lions are great characters and committed professionals who make our job as coaches so enjoyable and rewarding.
“The standard of the AFL competition continues to rise and much of this is due to the work of the coaches at every club. It’s a positive that this has been recognised by the AFL, with increases in the soft cap going forward to next season. It’s important that this trend continues into the future.”
Fagan’s impact on the Lions has been immense since taking over as senior coach for the 2017 season and the relationship he has built with his players, both young and old, speaks to the value he provides as a senior coach.
Like 2024, the 2025 season had plenty of ups and downs for the Lions with some tough losses and the loss of key personnel at stages. Through it all, Fagan was a constant the Lions could rely upon.
“’Fages’ has shown himself to be an inspiring leader for the Lions and it’s not hard to see why he is so well respected by the coaching fraternity” AFLCA CEO Alistair Nicholson said.
“It’s great to see him earn this kind of recognition after a long journey and extraordinary commitment, over many years, to the coaching profession.
“We again wish him and his coaching panel the best for the Grand Final on Saturday afternoon.”
The 2025 AFL Coaches Association Awards announced throughout the AFL Awards Night, included the Neale Daniher Lifetime Achievement Award, AFL Coaches Association Assistant Coach of the Year, Development Coach of the Year, Career and Education Award and Media Award.
The AFL Coaches Association Assistant Coach of the Year Award went to Brisbane’s CAMERON BRUCE for his work in his first season as midfield coach at the Lions in the 2025 season.
Bruce joined Brisbane in late 2021, after beginning his coaching career at the Hawks in 2013, where he was part of their three-peat premiership success. He later served as a senior assistant at Carlton before bringing his experience to Brisbane, where he has played a key role in shaping the Lions’ midfield and stoppage structures.
Adelaide’s Murray Davis finished in second place and Bruce’s Brisbane coaching colleague Dale Morris was third.
The 2025 AFL Coaches Association Development Coach of the Year Award was awarded to Hawthorn’s DAVID MACKAY.
Mackay has held the role of Development Coach at the Hawthorn Football Club since 2023, working closely with the club’s emerging talent. In July 2025, he also took on added responsibility as Assistant Coach – Structure and Opposition. Mackay joined Hawthorn’s coaching ranks in 2022, contributing to both the Box Hill VFL program and the AFLW midfield group.
Last year’s winner, Kangaroo Michael Barlow was in second place with West Coast Eagles coach Jamie Maddocks in third.
Adelaide Coaching Director MURRAY DAVIS was awarded the 2025 AFL Coaches Association Career and Education Award, being recognised for furthering his coaching credentials through study and career development.
Davis has demonstrated a strong commitment to continuous professional growth, completing the Aleda Leadership Program (2023–2024), a Graduate Certificate in Sports Coaching from the University of Queensland (2019–2021), and the OPIC Organisational Psychology Assessment (2020). His development journey also includes courses in innovation, improvement, and time management through the Australian Institute of Management (2017), a USA study tour (2014), and the completion of an IT program in 2012.
GERARD WHATELEY was once again the coaches’ pick for the 2025 AFL Coaches Association Media Award for his work on Fox Footy’s AFL360 and SEN 1116 in 2025.
In 2025, the criteria for the Media Award was updated to recognise a media representative who delivers outstanding coverage and promotes greater understanding of the AFL and AFLW coaching community. Voting has also shifted to a single-vote system, replacing the previous 3-2-1 format.
Neale Daniher revealed the winner of the 2025 Neale Daniher AFL Coaches Association Lifetime Achievement Award as CHRIS FAGAN (see below for background on Chris Fagan), the man he gave his first AFL coaching job to in 1998 at the Melbourne Football Club. The bond between Daniher and Fagan is special, with the pair developing a deep friendship, to complement their professional relationship, over the past 25 years.
2025 MONJON ALLAN JEANS SENIOR COACH OF THE YEAR
1. CHRIS FAGAN – BRISBANE LIONS – 305 VOTES
2. CHRIS SCOTT – GEELONG CATS– 245 VOTES
3. MATTHEW NICKS – ADELAIDE – 128 VOTES
2025 AFL COACHES ASSOCIATION ASSISTANT COACH OF THE YEAR
1. CAMERON BRUCE – BRISBANE LIONS
2. MURRAY DAVIS – ADELAIDE
3. DALE MORRIS – BRISBANE LIONS
2025 AFL COACHES ASSOCIATION DEVELOPMENT COACH OF THE YEAR
1. DAVID MACKAY - HAWTHORN
2. MICHAEL BARLOW – NORTH MELBOURNE
2. JAMIE MADDOCKS – WEST COAST
BACKGROUND ON CHRIS FAGAN – 2025 NEALE DANIHER LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD WINNER
PLAYER:
263 GAMES – TASMANIAN STATE LEAGUE
1977 – 1989:
Played for Hobart, Sandy Bay, and Devonport in Tasmania’s top leagues
430 goals across his career
1980 & 1988:
TANFL Premiership Player
1980s:
11-time representative for Tasmania in interstate football
COACH & ADMINISTRATOR:
1993 – 1994
SENIOR COACH – SANDY BAY FOOTBALL CLUB
Former club captain returned as senior coach
1995 – 1997
INAUGURAL COACH – TASSIE MARINERS (TAC CUP)
Led Tasmania’s first U18 national competition side
AFL COACHING & ADMINISTRATION:
1998 – 2007
ASSISTANT COACH – MELBOURNE FOOTBALL CLUB
Worked under Neale Daniher
2000:
Part of coaching panel for AFL Grand Final team
2008 – 2013
HEAD OF COACHING & DEVELOPMENT – HAWTHORN FOOTBALL CLUB
Key figure behind Hawthorn’s premiership rise and 2008 premiership
2013 – 2016
GENERAL MANAGER OF FOOTBALL – HAWTHORN FOOTBALL CLUB
Oversaw Football Operations during 2013, 2014 & 2015 premierships
SENIOR COACH:
2017 – Present
SENIOR COACH – BRISBANE LIONS
215 games as coach (after Preliminary Final v Collingwood)
Transformed the club from bottom-four finishes to consistent finals appearances
First-time Grand Finalist in 2023
2024 AFL PREMIERSHIP COACH – Led Brisbane to its first flag since 2003
HONOURS:
2007: Inducted into the Tasmanian Football Hall of Fame
2019: AFLCA Allan Jeans Senior Coach of the Year
2024: Awarded as coach of the All Australian Team
2024: AFLCA Allan Jeans Senior Coach of the Year
2024: AFL Premiership Coach
2025: AFLCA Allan Jeans Senior Coach of the Year
