Legendary Brisbane leader Leigh Matthews has revealed exactly what he said in the moments leading up to handing over the 2024 premiership cup to Lions coach Chris Fagan.
After the Lions’ triumphant 60-point grand final win over Sydney on Saturday, Matthews was tasked with handing over the cup to Fagan.
But moments before the official presentations, the pair met on the MCG turf and shared an emotional embrace.
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And Matthews has now opened up on their exchange that left Fagan in tears.
“It was something I’ve said to him a few times. I said, ‘mate, you’re a premiership coach. It’s just that the team has to win a premiership for you to frank it. But you are a premiership coach’,” Matthews revealed on Nine’s Footy Furnace on Sunday.
Chris Fagan in tears as he hugs Leigh Matthews after winning the 2024 grand final. 7
“That’s the message I tried to really reinforce.”
Matthews also revealed the pair catch up most weeks, with Fagan looking to the three-time premiership coach for guidance.
Fagan also leant on Matthews moreso during the start of their 2024 campaign, which saw them go 0-3.
“It’s a very stressful job. When he comes to dinner, you can always see the stress on his shoulders. You’re hoping by the end of the hour he’s a little more relaxed, we can have a bit of fun,” he said.
“I can tell him, ‘it’s only a game, don’t get so stressed’, to try take the stress off his shoulders.”
The heartwarming scenes juxtapose the ones from 12 months ago, when a heartbroken Lions squad lay lifeless on the MCG after their four-point grand final loss to Collingwood.
Twelve months is a long time in football and for Fagan, that year was more stressful for him than most.
It left Matthews in awe of his redemption.
Leigh Matthews watches on as Chris Fagan, Lachie Neale, Dayne Zorko and Harris Andrews lift the 2024 premiership cup. via Getty Images
“As a man I like him. I respect him enormously as a person and I admire the role he plays as Brisbane Lions senior coach,” he said.
“If he ran for prime minister today, he would be elected.”
The Lions celebrated with Victorian fans at Brunswick Street Oval on Sunday, before jetting off back home to present the cup to the Brisbane faithful.