The Brisbane Lions have chosen experienced assistant coach Cameron Bruce as their next senior coach on a three-year deal, replacing the retired triple-premiership winner Chris Fagan, according to The Age.
Bruce beat out a strong group of external candidates that included 2018 AFL grand final coaches Nathan Buckley and Adam Simpson, alongside Collingwood senior assistant coach Hayden Skipworth, according to 7NEWS.
His appointment follows a thorough search directed by a selection committee that met on Monday afternoon to ratify his selection after interviewing the rival candidates last week.
Bruce joins a stable playing group at a club that has experienced remarkable success, bringing the advantage of virtual incumbency. He enjoyed a 13-year playing career consisting of 224 matches for Melbourne and 10 games at Hawthorn before retiring in 2012.
Breaking – Cam Bruce is the new coach of Brisbane @7NewsBrisbane @7NewsMelbourne @7AFL @triplemfooty https://t.co/L7BanygR6J
During his playing days with the Demons, he captained the side in 2008 and won the club’s best and fairest award in the same season, as well as playing in Melbourne’s 2000 grand final side.
Immediately following his retirement, Bruce commenced his coaching career as a development coach at Hawthorn before working as a senior assistant under Alastair Clarkson across the club’s premiership three-peat from 2013 to 2015.
He then joined Carlton at the end of 2017 to work under Brendon Bolton as an assistant before departing at the end of 2021 following an extensive review into the underperforming club. Reunited with Fagan at the Lions in 2022, Bruce has been involved in six premierships as a development and assistant coach across Hawthorn, Carlton, and Brisbane since 2013.
I think he’d be awesome,
Hugh McCluggage, Lions star
McCluggage added in Zero Hanger that Bruce is a great tactical mind who understands people and maintains close relationships with the playing group.
Bruce brings extensive assistant coaching experience, having been involved in six premierships across stints with Hawthorn, Carlton, and Brisbane, according to ABC News. His coaching career began under Alastair Clarkson at Hawthorn following a 234-game playing career split between Melbourne and Hawthorn, where he captained the Demons and won their best and fairest award in 2008, according to ESPN.
Fagan endorsed Bruce on SEN last month, stating that family ties in Queensland kept the assistant coach from pursuing other senior roles.
The only reason he hasn’t put his hand up for jobs in more recent years is that he loves it up here,
Chris Fagan, outgoing coach
Fagan added on SEN that Bruce has a young family who also love the region, giving him an opportunity where he did not have to relocate.
Speaking on SEN, Chris Fagan shared his belief that Bruce would presently hold an AFL senior coaching position had he chosen to pursue one.
As noted by AFL.com.au, the panel tasked with proposing Bruce to the board featured chairman Andrew Wellington, CEO Sam Graham, football manager Danny Daly, board member Leigh Matthews, club legend Simon Black, psychologist Matti Clements, and coaching mentor Phil Smyth. Daly had initially been considered an early favourite for the position before stepping aside to remain the head of football.
With Bruce taking the reins as the Lions pursue a second V/AFL four-peat to equal the 1927-30 Collingwood ‘Machine’, Fagan departed his role following the grand final triumph against Fremantle to become Carlton’s director of coaching.
