Pies great among Lions finalists as retired coaching great meets with three clubs

Former Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley is set to be among the shortlist of contenders for Brisbane's senior coaching vacancy as Chris Fagan weighs up his next move.

The Herald Sun reports Buckley will formally present to the Lions' selection panel, with the club prepared to wait until he returns from an overseas holiday next month.

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It means the Lions mightn't lock in their new senior coach until early November.

Brisbane has narrowed its search for Fagan's successor down to three or four options after catching up with candidates in recent weeks.

Highly-rated assistant coach Cameron Bruce, who's the favourite for the gig and has been heavily endorsed by Fagan, will also progress to the next round of interviews.

But the Lions reportedly haven't yet committed to Bruce and club bosses are believed to be keen to explore all options.

Buckley pulled out of the race to be North Melbourne's coach days after Fagan stepped down. The Collingwood great and Geelong assistant was also in the mix for Melbourne and Tasmania's roles.

Lions chairman Andrew Wellington, chief executive Sam Graham, footy boss Danny Daly, coaching mentor Phil Smyth, director Leigh Matthew, club great Simon Black and sports psychologist Matti Clements make up Brisbane's coaching selection panel to find the candidate to try and steer the club to a record-equaling fourth-straight premiership.

Meanwhile, the Herald Sun also reports Fagan is meeting with clubs this week including Collingwood, Carlton and Melbourne about senior roles in their footy department for 2027.

But the triple premiership coach is yet to make a call on his next landing spot after moving back to Melbourne to be closer to family, with his decision expected to be finalised in about a fortnight.

It comes after SEN's Sam Edmund said earlier this week he's heard whispers Fagan could land at the Magpies.

"I'm hearing something. So, I'm not reporting this, I'm just hearing this.... this is going to come as a shock to a lot of people. But I'm hearing Chris Fagan might end up at Collingwood," Edmund said.

"Which you would have thought might be the last place he ends up. But that's what I'm hearing, I'm hearing Chris Fagan ends up at Collingwood."