Brisbane is considering sounding out Nathan Buckley about being involved in the coaching process, as the club looks to find Chris Fagan's successor.
Fagan called time on his very successful coaching career at the Lions following a fourth consecutive Grand Final, which consisted of three straight victories, a feat the club achieved two decades ago.
Buckley, who has been part of the Melbourne, Tasmania and North Melbourne coaching searches in the past 18 months, will return to the Cats for 2027 after pulling out of the Kangaroos hunt, who are soon to announce Jaymie Graham as Alastair Clarkson's replacement as early as this week.
The Collingwood champion started his AFL career at the Brisbane Bears, and won the Rising Star in 1993 before trading out of the maroon and gold for black and white.
"What I have learned today is that there is consideration being given to asking Nathan Buckley to also be part of the process."
Damian Barrett revealed some key details about Brisbane's hunt for their next coach on tonight's Footy Furnace Trade Edition. Watch on YouTube now. pic.twitter.com/8q3HpF2ySE
— Footy on Nine (@FootyonNine) October 5, 2026
The Lions are considering asking Buckley to be part of the process, with Danny Daly and Cameron Bruce as leading candidates.
After retiring in 2007, Buckley joined the coaching ranks and was an assistant under Michael Malthouse in the 2010 premiership and the 2011 Grand Final loss to Geelong.
He took over as senior coach the following season, and led the Pies to the 2018 decider, as well as a pair of finals series before he departed the club midway through 2021.
Since he left Collingwood, Buckley pushed for the Demons vacancy (won by Steven King), but focused on the Tasmania position before Ken Hinkley was announced as the Devils coach.
He bypassed the Essendon and Carlton positions and was included in the North Melbourne search, but ultimately, the role wasn't for him.
Buckley intends to return to the senior coaching caper and expressed contentment with his current role at Geelong under Chris Scott, as well as his media responsibilities.
Fagan's departure has multiple clubs considering making a play for the football star, including Carlton.
The former Lions coach said he'll return to Melbourne to be closer to his family after a decade in Queensland, and multiple Victorian clubs, including the Blues, loom as potential destinations if he wants to remain in the AFL in 2027.
