Brisbane coach Chris Fagan has drawn similarities between his side and Hawthorn during its three-peat between 2013 and 2015, saying the club is built for sustained success.

Fagan is hoping his club bucks the trend that has plagued the previous two premiers, with both Collingwood and Geelong missing the finals following their flag success.

The Lions had been the pinnacle of the competition since 2019, notching up the most wins for little return before the 2024 grand final.

Multiple preliminary and semi-final exits compounded to a berth in the 2023 decider that ended in heartbreak, with many pundits believing Fagan didn't have the coaching nous to take them to the promised land, albeit losing by four points to Pies.

Brisbane has built a fortress at the Gabba and a system that has welcomed star players from across the nation, with very few wanting to leave.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MAY 19: Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson and Chris Fagan, General Manager - Football Operations, arrive during a Hawthorn Hawks AFL training session at Waverley Park on May 19, 2016, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

Sound familiar?

After the Hawks shocked Geelong in 2008, they suffered a massive dip before surging to six (2011-2016) consecutive top-four finishes, securing three flags, and placing the club amongst the greatest in history.

Fagan - who was Alastair Clarkson's understudy at the Hawks from 2008 to 2016 - played a pivotal role in the club's sustained success and can see many similarities with the Lions of today.

"The one thing about our group is, we're not a flash in the pan," Fagan said on theย Dyl and Friendsย podcast.

"This didn't just happen out of the blue. I remember when Hawthorn won in 2008, Clarko's third year, and it happened so quickly.

"Not one expected it. Then everyone said, 'How good is this team going to be for the next so many years'.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 03: Cyril Rioli, Jordan Lewis, Sam Mitchell, Jarryd Roughead, Grant Birchall and Luke Hodge of the Hawks celebrate with the trophy after winning the 2015 AFL Grand Final match between the Hawthorn Hawks and the West Coast Eagles at Melbourne Cricket Ground on October 3, 2015 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

"Guess what happened? They didn't make (finals). The next year, they got knocked out of the first week of the finals. The next year, they got beaten in the preliminary final. Then, the next, they lost the grand final. Then they won three in a row.

"That group, I reckon, that won three in a row, and I'm not saying we can win three in a row, but I think we're more at that point than the Hawthorn that won in 2008."

The Lions condemned all critics when thumping Sydney by 60 points on the last Saturday of September, with many tipping them to improve.

Father-son gun Levi Ashcroft and Academy prospect Sam Marshall will join the club following next month's National Draft.

Then there's the forgotten injured cohort: Keidean Coleman, Lincoln McCarthy, Darcy Gardiner, Tom Doedee and Oscar McInerney, with the latter missing the decider following a shoulder injury during the preliminary final.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 21: Oscar McInerney of the Lions receives medical attention after appearing to dislocate his shoulder during the AFL Preliminary Final match between Geelong Cats and Brisbane Lions at Melbourne Cricket Ground, on September 21, 2024, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Of the seven, you'd think at least five would return to the senior side for Round 1 (or Opening Round) in 2025.

But their attempts to go back-to-back - a feat they achieved two decades ago - will be without star forward Joe Daniher.

Fagan likened the departure of Daniher to Lance Franklin in 2013, with the champion goalkicker opting to leave the Hawks for Sydney.

Franklin left Victoria as a four-time All-Australian, two-time Coleman medallist and six-time leading goalkicker at Hawthorn, working in tandem with Jarryd Roughead, Cyril Rioli, Paul Puopolo, Jack Gunston and Luke Breust.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 28: Joe Daniher of the Lions celebrates after scoring a goal during the AFL Grand Final match between Sydney Swans and Brisbane Lions at Melbourne Cricket Ground, on September 28, 2024, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

In 2014, the Swans recruit won his third Coleman Medal but was closely followed by three of his former teammates, with Roughead (75 goals), Gunston (58) and Breust (57) ticking the scoreboard over.

The year after, the Hawthorn trio all kicked over 50 goals each, whilst Rioli added 42 of his own in another premiership-winning year.

"We've got to do it without Joey and another opportunity there for somebody," Fagan said.

"I'll go back to my Hawthorn days when the big Bud' left and went up to Sydney, and everyone said, 'That's the end of Hawthorn', and we win two more.

"Because there is somebody else who will come along, and you'll find a way to get the best out of the team.

"It's a great challenge for us."

Brisbane is looking into bringing former Gold Coast forward Sam Day to fill the void as a forward-ruck.

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 05: Charlie Cameron of the Lions celebrates a goal during the 2024 AFL Round 04 match between the Brisbane Lions and the North Melbourne Kangaroos at Norwood Oval on April 05, 2024 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Darcy Fort has been used as a partner-in-crime with McInerney before, whilst the emergence of Logan Morris has Lions fans confident they can ascend to the top of the mountain once more.

Charlie Cameron and Zac Bailey had down years compared to their lofty standards, Kai Lohmann's upside can see him eclipse his 36-goal return in 2024, Eric Hipwood was switched down back at times, and Cam Rayner spent more time in the midfield.

Add McCarthy and Gardiner to the mix, and Fagan has a potent forward line.