Nunan was then replaced by Alan McConnell, who returned to the role in his second stint as caretaker senior coach of Fitzroy Football Club in the 1996 season for Fitzroy's last eight games within the AFL. At the end of the 1996 season, the Fitzroy Football Club's AFL operations were taken over by Brisbane Bears, and Brisbane Bears then became Brisbane Lions.
Following Nunan's departure, Alan McConnell took over as caretaker senior coach of Fitzroy Football Club in the 1996 season, guiding the team through its final eight games of the AFL season. Subsequently, Brisbane Bears assumed control of Fitzroy's AFL operations at the end of 1996, and Brisbane Bears was subsequently rebranded as Brisbane Lions.