Revealed: The heartwarming message Leigh Matthews gave Chris Fagan after Brisbane Lions won the AFL Grand Final
- Leigh Matthews has revealed what he said to Chris Fagan
- Matthews and Fagan hugged after the final siren
- The Brisbane couple are good friends and enjoy weekly dinners
It was the image that will live long in Brisbane Lions history, as well as footy folklore.
After seeing his side officially crowned AFL premier, Lions coach Chris Fagan first turned to Leigh Matthews, the football great who himself led the same club to four flags.
The pair embraced and tears flowed from both men, in scenes that touched the hearts of football fans.
Matthews was on hand to present the premiership cup to Brisbane as the club celebrated their first victory since 2003, and he revealed to News Corp the first words he said to Fagan when his victorious fate was sealed.
“I said to him before the game, ‘You’re a premiership coach and they have to prove if they’re a Premiership team,’” he said.
‘After the match I said: ‘You are a Premier League coach and you have coached a Premier League team.’ That’s all.’
Matthews explained that he does not define a ‘premiership coach’ as just those who have won a flag.
“You can be a premiership coach without actually winning the premiership,” he said.
Leigh Matthews has revealed what he said to Chris Fagan about the final siren
Fagan ended Brisbane’s 21-year wait for the AFL premiership on Saturday
“I think he’s a premiership coach and it happened today that he became one, but that doesn’t mean he wasn’t one before that.”
Fagan and Matthews are good friends and have weekly meals with Lions chief executive Greg Swann and their wives.
‘He coaches the Lions and I am on the board, but we have become good friends and I have a lot of admiration for him. So yeah, I’m so happy for him,” he said.
‘It’s an interesting starting point to know that he didn’t play in AFL, and he played at Tassie, but he just rose through the ranks, starting with Neale Daniher in Melbourne, then obviously at Hawthorn, and then he got his chance in Brisbane . Lions.
‘He has always been underestimated. That is partly due to his background.’
Looking back on the final siren hug, Matthews said he never intended to be in the spotlight at that special moment.
“It’s not my moment, it’s his moment, and I just wanted to congratulate him,” he said.