Lions coach coy on retirement rumours as awkward moment caps parade

Brisbane coach Chris Fagan admits Saturday’s grand final could be his last game at the helm.

The 65-year-old said during Friday’s grand final parade that he will sit down and speak with the club in the aftermath of the game to determine what comes next – though this is something he has done annually across the last few years.

Speculation about Fagan’s future has increased this time around, however, after three-time Lions premiership coach Leigh Matthews suggested he may retire at the end of 2026.

Fagan, who will coach a fourth straight grand final on Saturday, is contracted until the end of 2027. It is speculated he will hand the reins to senior assistant coach Danny Daly when he departs.

The veteran coach said he isn't yet sure what the future holds beyond the grand final.

"I'm only worried about the game tomorrow. Every year for last few years I've had a chat with our CEO and our president about when the right time for me to finish up is," Fagan told reporters.

"This is my 10th year so I've been going for a while. I'll get through this game and have the usual chat I've had every other year post this game and see what happens.

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"It's fair enough to speculate about it. I honestly don't know right at this point in time if I'll keep going or not, but I was like that last year and the year before as well.

"Just got to work out the right time to go. There will be a few more discussions to go."

A win on Saturday would make Fagan the third coach this century to helm a three-peat, alongside Alastair Clarkson and Matthews himself. Damien Hardwick has also won three premierships as a coach this century.

Fagan sat opposite Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir at the traditional dual coaches press conference during the grand final parade.

Melbourne put on an overcast, but quite warm afternoon for the affair as hundreds of thousands flocked to be a part of the action given the public holiday.

Players from both teams were driven around the parade, plus this year's award winners, including Brownlow Medallist Nick Daicos.

It concluded with both captains raising the premiership cup, with Alex Pearce and Josh Dunkley doing the honours – the Lions have three skippers in Dunkley, Hugh McCluggage and Harris Andrews after Lachie Neale stood down at the start of the year.

There was an awkward moment however with neither Pearce nor Dunkley wanting to be the first to let go of the premiership cup's handle.

See all the best photos from the grand final parade below.