3 minute read

They've lost the chance to play an AFL grand final on their home ground but Brisbane coach Chris Fagan is confident his Lions are on a long road to glory.

Brisbane may never have a kinder journey to an AFL premiership but Chris Fagan is confident 2020 won't be his Lions only shot at grand final glory.

Saturday's 40-point preliminary final loss to Geelong at the Gabba clearly hurts the Lion coach, knowing his team had fallen just one game short of the once-in-a-lifetime chance to play for a flag on home soil.

While Fagan would have welcomed the bizarre way things have fallen this year to deliver his team a premiership, he is acutely aware transforming a club from also-rans to premiers is a process that rarely happens swiftly.

"We've had a fantastic year and it hasn't finished in the way that we wanted to but that's what happens when you get down to the last four," Fagan said.

"You face disappointment sometimes and it's that disappointment that hardens you in the long run.

"I was fortunate to spend time at Hawthorn.

"They won a flag in 2008 and the next year they didn't make the finals.

"The next year they got knocked out in the first week of the finals.

"The next year they got back in the prelim.

"The next year they got beaten in the grand final.

"And then they won three in a row.

"It's a process that you have to go through, unfortunately."

In his four seasons at the Lions, Fagan has gone from finishing last in 2017, 15th in 2018, second in 2019 and then a preliminary final in 2020.

Essendon forward Joe Daniher is a key recruitment target with Fagan insisting there'll be no standing still in terms of seeking more improvement at the Lions.

"We're obviously pretty keen to get Joe Daniher to our club, I think he can help," Fagan said.

"We're already in the business of improving for next year so we won't let the grass grow under our feet."