Brisbane Lions senior coach, Chris Fagan, has been awarded the Keys to the City of Brisbane.
The architect of the Lions’ historic premiership three-peat today became just the 61st person, team or organisation recognised with Brisbane’s highest honour.
Lord Mayor, Adrian Schrinner presented the Keys to Mr Fagan during the Lions’ premiership celebration at Riverstage.
“Chris has demonstrated incredible leadership and humility with the way he has gone about turning the Brisbane Lions into a sporting powerhouse,” said Lord Mayor Schrinner.
“Brisbane residents can be incredibly proud of not just the Lions’ results but the way their coach has orchestrated such an incredible outcome without much personal fanfare at all.
“A decade ago, Chris took on a football club that had won three games all season and today he’s received the highest honour our city can bestow by becoming the 61st recipient of the Keys to the City of Brisbane.
“Chris didn’t just build a premiership side, he built the Pride and then he had the courage to put his faith in it when everything was on the line.
“Three flags in three years, four Grand Finals on end and a coach who still gives the credit away to everybody but himself.
“Almost 20 years ago this city handed the Keys to Leigh Matthews. Today we do it again for a coach whose team has brought this city together like nothing else can.”
When Mr Fagan was appointed in October 2016, Brisbane had won three games that season and finished second last on the ladder. A decade on, the Lions have played in four consecutive Grand Finals and won three consecutive premierships.
Saturday’s seven point win over Fremantle was the club’s sixth flag and its second three-peat, more premierships than any other club has won this century.
Other recipients of the Keys to the City include The Bee Gees, Savage Garden, Red Frogs, the SES, Li Cunxin AO, and the Australian Olympic and Paralympic sporting teams.
