Brisbane Lions coaching race down to four contenders, Chris Fagan replacement, Cameron Bruce tipped as favourite, Nathan Buckley, Adam Simpson, Hayden Skipworth, latest news

Brisbane has reportedly narrowed its coaching race to replace Chris Fagan down to four, with formal presentations for the role now underway.

SEN’s Sam Edmund revealed on Friday morning that current Lions assistant Cameron Bruce, West Coast premiership coach Adam Simpson, Collingwood legend Nathan Buckley and current Magpies assistant Hayden Skipworth are the quartet who remain in the running.

Bruce, who joined Brisbane in September of 2021, is understood to still be in pole position for the vacancy, though he evidently has healthy competition come presentation time.

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“The Brisbane Lions coaching race is down to four candidates now,” Edmund said.

“The final four is Cam Bruce, Nathan Buckley, Adam Simpson and Hayden Skipworth. Daniel Giansiracusa, for whatever reason, didn’t go for it.

“Bruce is still seen as the favourite to replace Chris Fagan. “They’ve got their shortlist, the formal presentations are now underway. This will come into view pretty quickly.

“Bruce is seen as the most logical successor at this stage.”

Buckley pulled out of the race to be North Melbourne’s coach days after Fagan stepped down at Brisbane. The Collingwood great and Geelong assistant was also in the mix for Melbourne last year and a gig at the AFL’s incoming 19th team Tasmania.

Long-time footy administrator Danny Daly had also spoken on multiple occasions about his desire to one day be a senior coach, but that it wouldn’t be as Fagan’s successor.

Alongside Daly, the panel deciding on Fagan’s replacement are Lions chairman Andrew Wellington, chief executive Sam Graham, coaching mentor Phil Smyth, and director Leigh Matthews in an advisory capacity, with support from club great Simon Black and sports psychologist Matti Clements.