Brisbane clutch AFL Premeirship three-peat! | The Wisdom & Experience of Robert Craddock (28.09.26)
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What does the three‑peat victory mean for Brisbane Lions fans?
Waitley on SEN. Let's head to Brisbane for our Monday dose of wisdom and experience with Robert Craddock. Hello to you, Crash.
G'day, Gerard. How are you going?
I'm
well. The celebrations are still sort of what you might call bubbling away up here.
What's the sense of pride like in what the Lions were able to
complete? Just terrific. Although I will say this, Gerard, I've been in Brisbane for six AFL premierships from the Lions and six from the Broncos. This is different to all of them because there's a vibe I've never seen before and may never see again. And you know what it is? There's genuine sympathy for the opposition. Not amongst every supporter, but it's extraordinary the amount of people that I've met over the last 24 hours who've said, you know what, I've got to say, I actually felt sorry for Frio. Like some of those kids who'll live with, they'll never get another chance to live with that for the rest of their lives. Amidst the celebration, the sense of bewilderment, there is that. I've never seen it before.
And I don't
reckon, you know, there was a narrow win against Collingwood back in the early years of this century. And it was almost extra juicy because it was narrow. You know what I mean? Everyone loves beating Collingwood. But this was different.
Why did the Lions’ win feel different from past premierships?
It was different.
Chris Fagan and Lee Matthews forever intertwined in history now and maybe more than that.
Yes, well, the Courier-Mail has lent our way behind a statue outside the new stadium of that beautiful photo taken last year of the two of them embracing after the Lions Premiership. And it's the warmest hug you've ever seen. It looks almost extra sweet because Lee Matthews doesn't come across as a natural hugger, does he? And it links the two eras. And the reason I like it, Gerard, is not only because the Lions are going to be a foundation tenant of the new Olympic Stadium. But a stadium's got to have a soul, you know? Like, you think of Optus Stadium in Perth. It's really functional, and the Olympic Stadium's designed on that. But you've got to give it a bit of history and a bit of flavour and warmth.
And if you walk past that statue, you almost have to look up at it because it's so odd and endearing. So go the statue. Go the hug, I say.
How are you sniffing the breeze on what Chris Fagan's plans might be? Yeah, it's
funny. It was a big concession to him, wasn't it, when he said, you know, there's a strong temptation to go. And I heard that he didn't want to make any announcement which would detract from the week's festivities, and we get that. I've probably still got him just more out than in, although people that are better informed than I have got it the other way. But I will say this, Gerard. As soon as you start talking about retirement, a little part of you tends to retire. That's the old saying in sport. And I have found that is true because if you're sitting on the mountaintop like Chris is, and it will never get better than that, and you're still wondering whether you can go again, you have to have genuine doubts about it.
But a couple of things. I feel for the poor guy who replaces him. Imagine, just say he steps down. The guy could have an absolute stormer, get him to the preliminary final and then be a failure. He could get to the grand final and lose it and be a failure. So that would be a tough job. What have you got him? All right, Gerard, on the spot, your market, your betting market, Fagan to stay, Fagan to go. I
just think if you listen to him, it sounds like he's going to leave. Yeah. So I based it on nothing other than having listened to him over the past couple of days.
Can I put a question to you? Yep. Do you find it sweetly ironic that his great mate and mentor, Alistair Clarkson... was dismissed from his job sort of being, oh, we want a coach who's in touch with the modern era. And he's Fagan, a decade older. And have you ever seen a coach more in touch with kids who could be his grandchildren? Is there an irony in that? You know the game better than I
do. No, there definitely is. And some of the narrative that's been spun around coaches at the moment just defies logic because the commanding presence is a 65-year-old who's so young of heart.
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3 chaptersSpeakers
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