Almanac Book Reviews: ‘Fagan’s Way: Tributes & Insights’

 

 

With one of the biggest preliminary finals weekends fast approaching, I had the privilege of being sent a copy of a very recently published book by Chris McLeod and Sam Harvey. Fagan’s Way: Tributes & Insights takes the reader into the troubled club which was the Brisbane Lions, post the 2016 AFL season. Only a minor percentage difference prevented Brisbane from claiming the wooden spoon. Though given that the Essendon squad were decimated due to the WADA bans, Fagan was affectively taking over a team which could hardly have fallen any lower. The climb back was going to require some tough conversations and hard work. Fagan meeting with everyone associated with the club to find out what was good, what was bad and what could be better, was an early sign that the Lions had their right man, with a continuous process of learning being part of a long journey back to relevance.

 

Ben Harvey is a Lions fan who was very young during the previous golden era of Brisbane. His story is explored, including his eternal gratitude to his papa, a proud Fitzroy fan who has the honour of experiencing the joy of Fitzroy’s last flag in their own right, in 1944, as well as the success of both eras since the merge took place. Some touching stories of the 2024 finals and Ben and his family and friends’ experiences and emotions are detailed.

 

The book goes back to when Fagan was establishing himself and watching his father working and his journey from a player and coach in Tasmania, through to his time progressing and making his mark as a highly respected assistant coach at Melbourne and then joining Hawthorn. Wounds from the Gravel Oval in Queenstown can almost be felt along the way. Fagan’s Way doesn’t just explore Fagan’s personal and professional journey, it reflects on the rise of this new version of Brisbane as a club, commencing in 2019, as well as the painful losses since, particularly in finals. 2023 and 2024 are focused on in particular.

 

Premiership success was first tasted at the Hawks and tributes are paid to how instrumental Fagan was in roles as Head of Coaching & Development and Football General Manager. A deep insight comes from Fagan paying special acknowledgment to some of his teachers in Queenstown. The long standing acceptance of gaining a mining apprenticeship and working there for life might suit some, but thanks to his teachers, who recognised that Fagan could achieve in different theatres, a sliding doors moment came. Fagan went to university and his subsequent teaching career is acknowledged as being crucial in the way he has coached since. Some legendary AFL figures who taught in their earlier life are acknowledged and the names John Kennedy, David Parkin and Alastair Clarkson are associated with the ultimate success.

 

Nothing comes easy and there have been difficulties across Fagan’s journey. The racial discrimination lawsuit from Fagan’s time at Hawthorn had him step aside for a period of time from Brisbane. The disjointed start to the 2024 season almost led to Fagan stepping away. The flag was going to be hard earned.

 

The despair of the 2023 Grand Final is covered. The pain, reflection and understanding helped lead to that fantastic last Saturday in September 2024, where everything aligned and Fagan was able to stand at his tallest. Harvey details how the club got there and what it meant to so many, including Fagan’s family and closest supporters. Family is a crucial part of what Fagan believes in and a quote from club legend Simon Black resonates throughout, “When they draft a player, they don’t just draft a player, they draft a family”. Fagan’s frequent travels interstate to meet players and their families is eye opening, as was the pledge to draft country kids when possible, to reduce the previous “go home” factor which had plagued Brisbane previously. Hugh McCluggage and Jarrod Berry are testament to that drafting mindset.

 

A unique attribute of the book is that it was published well into the 2025 season. Games and moments from the current season are touched on, with there being every possibility that it would be released close to crunch time in the finals series. As we are within days of Brisbane’s heavyweight clash with Collingwood at the MCG, there is no final chapter published about how the story of Fagan and Brisbane in 2025 will end. Win or lose, the legacy that Chris Fagan has built will only continue to grow. Years of sustained disappointment have been followed with Brisbane not just becoming relevant, but being a respected club and one which players actively want to play for. This is in no small part due to the coach, who as per his own mother and also the current chairman is a leader of men who creates an environment where people want to come to work.

 

A thoroughly enjoyable read for any Brisbane fan and footy fan in general.

 

 

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