Jonathan Brown Biography

Andrew McLeod will chair the five-person panel that will decide the winner of the Norm Smith medal in the 2022 AFL Grand Final between Geelong and Sydney.

McLeod will be joined on the panel by Jonathan Brown and David Mundy, as well as former Adelaide AFLW player and Seven Network commentator Abbey Holmes and Michael Gleeson from The Age.

Jonathan Brown is inducted into the AFL's Hall of Fame.

"The main reason I'm going in because of the success of that team," Brown said.

"I go back to Leigh's words when we were struggling at the start of 2001, 'If we have team success, our individual reputations will be so much greater'. There's not a truer word spoken."

Following the sacking of Justin Leppitsch as head coach, Brisbane Lions great Jonathan Brown criticizes his former club for being in disarray.

"There definitely has to be changes … because we know you need unity at the top of the football club and then that will permeate down throughout the football club," Brown said.

"The football department has got problems there. They are not united, the playing group are not on board with some of the off-field stuff so this needs to be completely tidied up.

"It is dysfunctional, unfortunately, at the moment and it really hurts me to say this as an ex-player."

AFL champions Jonathan Brown and Matthew Richardson will captain Victoria and the All Stars respectively in the EJ Whitten Legends Game in September.

"Very honoured to be captain of Victoria. I was very proud in 2008 … to follow in the footsteps of the great Teddy Whitten and captain my state," Brown said.

"We stuck it right up 'em that night, so hopefully we can get a repeat."

Richardson said he was keen to keep his unblemished record as captain intact.

"I've got a perfect record as captain. I didn't captain Richmond, but I did in one game. It was at The Oval, in an exhibition game in London, and we flogged Essendon," Richardson said.

"Took a little bag of five home myself."

Media personalities were on hand to raise money to find a cure for motor neurone disease in the Big Freeze 2 campaign led by Neale Daniher on Queen's Birthday.

All hands were on deck to help raise money for the cause, with Eddie McGuire, David Koch, Samantha Armytage, Kevin Sheedy, Matthew Richardson, Jonathan Brown, Matthew Lloyd, Cameron Ling, Dave Hughes, Gerard Whateley and Anthony Lehmann going down a slide at the MCG and plunging into an icy pool.

"My heart goes out to other MND sufferers, but they would all be overwhelmed and encouraged by the support that the community has given to the cause," Daniher told ABC radio.

"We keep our costs down, we're a small foundation, to make sure that every dollar counts."

New Lion Jarrad Jansen, who was recruited from Geelong, will wear Jonathan Brown's No.16 jumper in 2016.

The 20-year-old was all smiles when Brown presented him with the guernsey.

"It's an absolute privilege to be taking the jumper off Browny," Jansen said.

"He's a legend of the club, it's a legendary number.

"There is an element of pressure, but when you're training with your teammates, you forget about that pressure.

"I'm very grateful. The great man has made it famous. I won't take the opportunity for granted."

Jonathan Brown will be relocating his family from South East Queensland to take up a co-hosting job on FM radio in Victoria.

Brown has been confirmed as the co-host of Nova 100's new breakfast show beginning in January of 2016.

He'll join former Big Brother contestant Chrissie Swan and Friday Front Bar panelist Sam Pang on the new show.

"I'm ready to drag my backside out of bed again after 18 months in retirement," Brown said.

"I can't wait to get some motherly advice from Chrissie and for Sam to bring my coffee in every morning."

Jonathan Brown has graphically detailed the toll the various head injuries he sustained had on his career in his autobiography.

Brown revealed that club doctor Paul McConnell was prepared to breach doctor-patient confidentiality if Brown didn't retire following last year's collision with Greater Western Sydney defender Tom Bugg.

It was the latest in a series of head clashes that had marred Brown's career, including three within 12 months from the start of 2011.

In his book to be published on Thursday, Brown tells of a no-holds barred conversation over a coffee with the long-time Lions doctor, who he also considered a good friend.

"I had a bit of a crack at the doc. I told him he was exaggerating everything. I was too young to be written off," Brown wrote.

McConnell asked Brown how many concussions he thought he had suffered over his career. Brown thought it might have "only been five or six", but when McConnell said the figure was significantly more than that, the tone of the conversation changed.

Not only did McConnell warn that one more concussion would likely lead to permanent damage, he wanted permission to discuss Brown's condition with Lions management.

"That's when I knew I was done," Brown wrote. "It finally occurred to me that if Paul believed his professional responsibility was to step in and do something, then I had no option but to retire."

After emerging Lions forward Michael Close ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee at Etihad Stadium, Brisbane great Jonathan Brown has questioned the safety of the stadium's surface near the boundary line.

"How bad's that? The AstroTurf going all the way to the boundary line, there's a bit of a lip there," Brown told Fox Footy.

"That's workplace health and safety for mine.

"There's enough hurdles out there and enough obstructions ... to be worried about how the footing is on the ground."

Jonathan Brown says the AFL needs to look at applying harsher penalties for illicit drug use.

"Would a stiffer penalty hanging over your head stop you from doing it, maybe make you think twice at two o'clock in the morning in a nightclub when you're going to take the illicit substance? Personally I think it would," Brown said.

"I've never been that way inclined, but potentially they might need to look at stiffer penalties.

"With professional sport we do have a vehicle to be real leaders in the community. I think it's time now for the athletes to stand up."

It was a fairytale farewell for Jonathan Brown, and Brisbane Lions coach Justin Leppitsch says a huge weight has been lifted from the retired champion's shoulders.

The Lions battled the elements and a fourth-quarter comeback by North Melbourne to hang on for a gutsy four-point win on the same night Brown was celebrated with a half-time lap of honour around his beloved Gabba.

"I guess all the romantics out there would be very pleased that the fairytale's complete and Browny got sent off in the right way," Leppitsch said.

"It was a very good night for the club."

Jonathan Brown announces his immediate retirement.

Brown, 32, said his decision was based on strong medical advice following his third heavy head knock in 12 months in the Lions' 45-point loss to Greater Western Sydney on June 14.

"It's a very difficult time, but at the same time I'm very happy on reflection," Brown said.

"Unfortunately though, the last week or so it's become evident after my concussion last week that I don't respond or bounce back like I used to from those hits.

"I had pretty strong medical advice this week that it was in my best interest to stop.

"It's been a hard pill to swallow, even though deep down inside I knew that was the right answer."

Brisbane coach Justin Leppitsch says he will support Jonathan Brown's decision if he chooses to hang up the boots.

"The biggest thing I said to Browny is "you don't owe this football club anything"," Leppitsch said.

"There's a certain point … that you've got to say "I think that's enough". If the time's now, the time's now.

"He's a very loyal man that doesn't want to do the wrong thing by people. I was taking that pressure off him so he can make the decision that's right for him."

The Brisbane Lions are putting no pressure on Jonathan Brown to make a decision on his future.

"He can't put us in front of him and his happiness after footy," teammate Tom Rockliff said.

"It's vital for him to hang around for us for our young developing group, but if he decided to call it a day, then that's his decision and we'd stick beside him whichever way he goes."

The Brisbane Lions and Jonathan Brown can breathe a sigh of relief after the champion forward was cleared of any structural damage to his face following another head collision.

Brown was carted off the field early in the third quarter of the Lions' 45-point loss against GWS after being accidentally collected by the right hip of Giants defender Tomas Bugg in a marking contest.

Brown lay on the ground holding the left side of his face, was helped off by doctors and then subbed out by Zac O'Brien minutes later.

"I think he's ok. I don't think there's anything long-term," Brisbane coach Justin Leppitsch said.

"Obviously everyone was a bit concerned because of that (his history).

"Hopefully it's nothing too big. I think there's enough metal in there, hopefully it's ok to hold together. It's not ideal for him to get a head knock."

Jonathan Brown will weigh up his playing future in the coming days after suffering yet another concussion.

"I'm not mentally scarred by what's happened over the last few years, I'll still go out and play footy the same way," Brown said.

"The family support is there, there's no pressure either way to hang up the boots.

"You obviously have to weigh up these things. I'm getting to the end of my career, I'm still loving getting out there and trying to get out there and help the younger fellas at the club.

"I certainly don't move around like I used to but I've still got to be able to contribute enough to warrant a spot. We'll just let the dust settle, I don't think the first 24 hours is the time to make rash decisions.

"I'll consult the doctors this week, and obviously my wife and we'll see where things are at, but I'm pretty keen to play a full season that's for sure."

Jonathan Brown will play his 250th game this weekend against Richmond and has come under fire for his poor form this season after managing just 13 disposals and a goal in the past fortnight.

"There's been plenty of key forwards in the comp that I've seen that have been struggling to kick goals in the first four weeks of the season as well," Brown said.

"You don't see the "too old" headlines when they're 25 years old and not kicking goals.

"It's an easy excuse but it'll never worry me. I can't find any white flags in my back pocket yet, so you definitely won't see them."

Justin Leppitsch says Jonathan Brown is no guarantee of playing round one despite making his comeback from a foot injury in a practice match against Sydney.

"We'll see how his progression's going and see how he's right for two weeks time," Leppitsch said.

"We'll have a big discussion on whether he's ready for that game or the one or two after. (We) Just have to make sure we do the right thing by him when his body's ready."

Jonathan Brown says a limited pre-season will not hamper his output in 2014.

"My foot feels good, (I am) over all the problems, so hopefully now it'll be smooth sailing for the next six weeks," Brown said.

"I've been here plenty of times where I've had a limited pre-season and still been able to cope once the season starts."

Jonathan Brown is in doubt for round one with a nagging foot injury.

"What happens over the next two to three weeks will determine whether he'll be right for round one or not," Lions football manager Dean Warren said.

"He's been in the system for a long time, he's very professional in the way he prepares himself. There's still potentially a chance that he might be right for the start of the year.

"We certainly won't be rushing him back."

Jonathan Brown will return to pre-season training next week as he continues to overcome the foot problem which prematurely ended his 2013 AFL campaign.

"Brownie, from this point on, will have modified pre-seasons anyway," Brisbane coach Justin Leppitsch said.

"I don't think it's affected his run into the games. He'll be back on the park in the next week or so once we get the running miles into his legs."

Jonathan Brown re-signs for one more year with Brisbane to play on in 2014.

"I feel as though I still have some pretty good footy left in me, particularly after finishing last season earlier than I would have liked," Brown said.

"Plus, with such a young group, hopefully I can play a role in helping to continue bring that next generation of Lions forwards through."

Jonathan Brown says he, along with fellow veteran teammate Simon Black, are still undecided on whether to play on in 2014, particularly with the current uncertainty around the Lions' coaching position following Michael Voss' departure.

"We'd like to go around again, but we've got to work through that with the club and certainly with the new coach," Brown said.

"First and foremost, I want to tick the medical box. My operation's done and I got some good feedback from the surgeons going forward.

"I've still got the fire in the belly, but I want to make sure the body matches up with that and the coach's aspirations are the same."

After suffering a serious foot injury, Jonathan Brown admits the end of his career could be near.

"If I've played my last game, so be it. I can live with that," Brown told the Nine Network's Footy Show.

"I just don't want to go out there and play for the sake of it, or play for the money. I want to go out there and still be able to contribute.

"I love playing the game but I respect the game immensely, and it's getting harder and harder. I've just got to weigh up those things over the next few weeks and come to the right conclusion."

Jonathan Brown's career hangs in the balance after scans confirm a serious plantar fascia tear in his left foot.

"If you've ruptured it, you can't run or walk for a couple of weeks at best, and sometimes longer," leading sports medico Dr Peter Larkins said.

"You can jab them up and numb the whole bottom of your foot if you were desperate enough to play, but it's not a good thing or a good look.

"If they treat it properly, he won't play again this year."

Jonathan Brown is subbed off in the first quarter of the Lions match against St Kilda with a plantar fascia injury, raising questions about his AFL playing future.

"He's in a boot at the moment, (we'll) wait to assess on Monday about the extent of it," Lions coach Michael Voss said.

"They're not the world's worst injury, but we'll just have to wait and see how long that's going to leave him out for."

Jonathan Brown cops a two-match ban for striking Carlton's Michael Jamison but says he will use the imposed break to come back strong in the second half of the year.

"It was unfortunate. Obviously I thought I was unlucky with the decision but I've had to move on and focus on my training and use it as a mid-year freshen-up," Brown said.

"It'll hold me in pretty good stead for the second half of the year. I thought I was coming back into some pretty good touch so it wasn't timely.

"My form's been patchy but I think the side's been pretty patchy as well. Without scoring a lot of goals I think I'm coming back into touch over the last month and looking for a big finish to the year."

Brisbane coach Michael Voss defends Jonathan Brown after the key forward's recent form has come under scrutiny.

"His leadership around the place is second to none, there's not too many greater," Voss said about Brown.

"His influence is huge on these players and the confidence he gives around others is significant.

"When he does get back to 12 marks and four goals a game and those sort of things everyone wants him to be, that'll be the cream on top."

Jonathan Brown says he yearns for team success again in the latter part of his career.

"At this stage of your career you're really only focussing on team success," Brown said.

"I've been fortunate enough to feel what team success is like, and you'd love to get that feeling again."

Jed Adcock is named co-captain of the Lions and will lead the team alongside Jonathan Brown in 2013 while assisted by vice-captains Tom Rockliff and Daniel Rich.

"Jed has demonstrated outstanding leadership over his time at the Lions, and most specifically in his past four seasons as a vice-captain," Brisbane coach Michael Voss said.

"As we know, 'Browny' won't be around forever, and with Jed as co-captain, it will not only ease the load on 'Browny', but importantly they will both play a critical role in the continued development of Tom's and Daniel's leadership capabilities over the coming years.

"Jed is not only a leader on-field, he is an excellent representative of this footy club, and its culture and values."

Jonathan Brown reveals that he almost stepped down as Brisbane Lions captain during the off-season but will now share leadership in 2013 as co-captain with a younger player.

"It's good for the club, good for the players to share the responsibility and good for myself," Brown said.

"We had a few discussions at the end of the year about stepping aside and looking to the future.

"Vossy said he would like me to continue as a captain, but we will bring in a co-captain to bring that next generation through."

Simon Black and Jonathan Brown leave their management company, Velocity Sports, following an investigation into the company's part in Tippett's scandalous side-agreement with Adelaide.

Jonathan Brown says he was lucky to escape serious injury after being struck by a car on a training ride.

"I came through the roundabout and unfortunately the car didn't see me and just collected me on the way through," Brown said.

"I'm sure she (driver) didn't mean it, I know she wouldn't have meant it, but I just got hit in the side and my elbow smashed the windscreen.

"Fortunately enough I landed on all fours and got up straight away and didn't lose consciousness. I'm pretty good, I just feel like I've played a game of footy."

Jonathan Brown says success is right around the corner for the Lions and it is driving veterans like himself and Simon Black to play on.

"He loves playing footy. All indications at the moment are he's keen to keep playing," Brown said about Black.

"He's had a couple of issues with his body this year, but he's no different to most guys at the back end of their career. We'd love to see him keep playing, his form has been outstanding again."

Jonathan Brown says he understands how hard it must be for Lions coach Michael Voss to make a call on Simon Black's future.

"It's hard for Vossy because he has been our captain and is a great mate of ours," Brown said.

"But he has got a job to do for the footy club and he has to be honest as a coach to us players about how we are going with our performance."

Jonathan Brown is hoping some luck will come his way as he embarks on yet another comeback against Fremantle, the side he suffered the first of three serious facial injuries against in 2011.

"It's been a tough 12 months," Brown said.

"Those things happen in footy, I just put it down to a bit of bad luck and hopefully the Fremantle game is the start of some good luck now.

"Maybe the same opponent will bring some closure to the whole affair."

Brisbane captain Jonathan Brown says Israel Folau must be given time to learn the game as a key position player.

"I think Israel Folau has got to be judged as a debutant. There's a few debutants that have played well, but more often than not you struggle to get a kick," Brown said.

"The majority of the AFL world was looking at him like he is a star like he was in rugby league, which he's not, he's a debutant, he's just starting out, so it's going to take time.

"Especially for a key position player and especially trying to play key forward in the modern game, I think that's a pretty instinctive sort of position."

Lions skipper Jonathan Brown says he hopes to back by round 3.

"I'm feeling good and I'm looking forward to getting into the season," he said.

"Round three definitely I'll be back - unless something happens in the next couple of weeks. I just have to dodge the stray kicks from the boys at training."

Brisbane Lions captain Jonathan Brown is back on the track a week after fracturing his cheekbone.

"Browny's Browny, and that's the way he plays footy," teammate Ben Hudson said.

"That's why teammates and supporters love him. He's big and strong, so unless you want to tell him to change his game, I reckon we'll leave it as is.

"There's going to be injuries throughout the year; unfortunately it was our captain this time and touch wood there won't be many, but it's part and parcel of footy."

Michael Voss says he has no problem with the Matt Maguire challenge that fractured Jonathan Brown's cheekbone.

At the moment for us, we're learning about what it takes to compete continually and sometimes at practice you have to do those things," Voss said.

"We're teaching our team how to compete on the training track as well as on game day and there's certain expectations that we have.

"When you're teaching a group of players how to treat a contest there's certain non-negotiables that you need to be able to see, that's part of their development."

Jonathan Brown's completes his latest facial rebuild a success and is already looking forward to getting back on the field.

"With Brownie when you talk to him his mind has already shifted to when he can start training and apparently that is around Monday," Lions coach Michael Voss said.

"He's up and moving around and apart from a bit of swelling you probably wouldn't notice anything different.

"The cheekbone injury means he can still eat healthy (food) and train properly and it's just a time thing for him to be able to get over the break."

Geelong premiership player Cam Mooney says Matt Maguire overstepped the mark with his training hit on Jonathan Brown which led to the Brisbane skipper requiring facial surgery.

"It was a very avoidable the incident. It was a little bit silly by him," Mooney said.

"There are certain incidents where you don't have to be as reckless as that. He didn't have to go as hard as that, or go third man up. I just think he probably overstepped the mark a little bit."

Lions skipper Jonathan Brown has been involved in a head clash at training and will require further facial surgery that will rule him out of action for at least a few weeks.

"It appears at this stage that there's two cracks - one in the eye socket and one in the cheekbone," Brown's manager and former teammate Alastair Lynch said.

"He's going to need a lot of support to get over this psychological disappointment. Forget about the facial injury - he's going to be really down in the dumps about another injury to the face that's put him on the sidelines."

Brisbane Lion Jonathan Brown says when it comes to captains, one voice in charge is better than two.

"Sometimes it can become, not a democracy, but decisions by committee all the time," Brown said.

"I enjoyed playing under Vossy (Michael Voss) as the one captain, but at the end of the day it's what the coach wants."

Brisbane Lions skipper Jonathan Brown says he will play a bigger role in the pre-season competition than in recent years after a solid pre-season.

"I've been up and going since September. I feel now I'm ready to go and start playing games," Brown said.

"I haven't had much continuity in the last couple of years, with all the games I've missed. I'm keen to get that match fitness and match awareness and build relationships with the midfielders."

Jonathan Brown admits his style of play may be considered reckless but says it may be too late to change.

"I've done reckless things throughout my career and usually always seem to come out the other end," he said.

"But you've just got to keep playing your style of game, and the odds are you'll get through. It's going to be a little bit hard to change at this stage of my career.

"It's important that I give the guys a strong target down in the forward line. Fingers crossed I'll have a little bit better luck this year."

Key senior Brisbane Lions players including captain Jonathan Brown, Daniel Merrett, Simon Black and Jed Adcock will head to Arizona in November for altitude training.

"They've been around for a while and we can monitor their loads and we can change the stimulus of their training and break up pre-season training for them," Lions coach Michael Voss said.

"They're probably at a different stage to where a lot of our other guys are so we'll work them that way."

Brisbane Lions captain Jonathan Brown says criticism of his style of play is unwarranted despite suffering serious facial fractures twice in one season.

"I have been surprised and disappointed by some of the hysteria that has followed my season-ending injury," Brown said in his column in the Courier-Mail.

"It's the first time in my life I've been carried from the ground with concussion, and suddenly I'm meant to be reckless, crazy, dangerous and irresponsible for letting my team down.

"It's disappointing I've copped a busted jaw for the second time this year, and will miss the last six games. Nobody feels that more than me. But it's a pretty long bow to make me out as a serial offender."

The Brisbane Lions have confirmed that captain Jonathan Brown will miss the rest of 2011.

"While it's disappointing that Jonathan will not be playing again this year, he'll enter the pre-season with his body in a healthy state, which is something he hasn't been able to do for quite some time," Lions football manager Dean Warren said.

"Jonathan's long-term health and well-being has been the club's primary concern and he'll have the best support to ensure that when he does return he'll be in the best possible shape."

Jonathan Brown will undergo surgery after further scans reveal the Lions' skipper sustained a number of facial fractures.

"Someone's got to tell him he's not 21 any more," Brisbane coach Michael Voss said.

"He's unbelievable. When you're led by that bloke it's no wonder the guys want to come to the well. He's unbelievably courageous."

Luke Power says his captain Jonathan Brown won't change the way he plays and is as courageous as the come.

"It's just unfortunate and he's just so courageous and such an inspiration and as a group and as individuals we just hope he's all right," Power said.

"The players are just upset for Browny, it's just another shocking injury for him. Fractured bones in your face are one of the most unpleasant injuries you can have. The players are just worried about how he is and how he's going."

Jonathan Brown is knocked out and stretchered from the field in a sickening third-quarter incident in the Lions' round 17 match against Geelong.

Brisbane Lions captain Jonathan Brown has come through his return match without problems.

"I know it was wet but I grew up playing a lot of wet weather footy and I pride myself in these conditions so I was pretty disappointed with myself at half-time, but I managed to work my way into it," Brown said.

"I still feel pretty good. I cramped up a bit late but I was pretty happy with my conditioning."

Brisbane Lions captain says he hopes to be medically cleared to take on North Melbourne after a long stint on the sidelines due to multiple facial fractures.

"My strength is quite good and the positive out of it is my fitness didn't really wane at all because I was able to go back into training," he said.

"The biggest advantage I've got over most other players is that I've got freshness on my side. They've got eight or nine games into the season, their bodies are starting to tire. You're never quite sure about your touch, but if you can grab a couple (of marks) early, that does wonders for your confidence."

Michael Voss can't wait to have his skipper back in the side but wishes the Lions weren't so reliant on him.

"It's disappointing we have to rely on him to come back and give us that direction when we've certainly got the capability there," Voss said.

"He not only gives us his ability, but he gives us his voice and presence and ability to organise. It just would have been nice to achieve that without him there but, rightly or wrongly, we haven't been able to do that."

Jonathan Brown will undergo surgery after receiving multiple fractures to his face in the loss to Fremantle resulting from a clash with Luke McPharlin.

Lions skipper Jonathan Brown has lost weight in a bid to ease the load on his battle hardened body following surgery on his troublesome groin.

"I obviously had an operation during the off-season, but the body's going pretty well now. I only really started getting back into some running after Christmas, but so far the operation has been successful," Brown said.

"I'll certainly have a limited role in the pre-season, if any, but I'll be aiming to be there for round one, that's for sure."

Lions skipper Jonathan Brown is unsure as to whether wayward star Brendan Fevola will play for the club in 2011.

"I think the club management just pointed out that they just want to give Fev time to get his treatment and get his personal issues sorted out and then sort his football out at a later date," Brown said.

"That's as much as the playing group really knows at this stage. At the moment there's no real definitive timeframe on it."

Brisbane Lions captain Jonathan Brown will not return to full training until February.

"He has started running, but probably won't resume full training until early February in readiness for round one," Lions physical performance manager Brett Burton said.

Brisbane Lions captain Jonathan Brown will play his 200th game against Essendon at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

"To get through with the one club and the club I love and grew up barracking for is significant," Brown said.

"I think my body has been able to show a fair bit of resilience over the last four years after a bad two or three-year patch where I missed a lot of games."

Brisbane Lions coach Michael Voss admits Jonathan Brown should have been rested earlier instead of being played while suffering from an abdominal injury.

"We took a couple of weeks longer than what we perhaps should have, but we had to make the call on the information that was in front of us," Voss said.

"He made some ground that looked promising ... but then he hovered for a couple of weeks and because of that it clearly showed he needed a rest to be able to recover."

Lions captain Jonathan Brown says that he misses former teammate Daniel Bradshaw but that Brisbane's decision to recruit Brendan Fevola and Sydney acquiring Bradshaw has benefited both clubs.

"Braddy's a close mate of mine so at the end of the day, I'm just happy he's playing good footy," Brown said.

"It's always disappointing to see a great player go and a great mate go, but … the players play and management manages. We go along with the decisions that have been made and it's worked out well for both clubs… that's the business of football."

Jonathan Brown says his brilliant goalkicking form can be put down to the work of his newest teammate, Brendan Fevola.

"He's just a really smart forward; he's easy to work with, you know where he's going to lead, and we're really enjoying it - enjoying working down there," Brown said.

"He's certainly given me a lot of space. He's working very hard defensively as well, getting tackles and giving off those goals."

Essendon defender Tayte Pears says it has been his intention to bulk up during this pre-season leading into 2010.

"It's been a big pre-season in the gym. I haven't wanted to put it all on at once, so I've put on a little bit and hopefully that helps this year," Pears said.

"My playing weight was around 89-90kg last year and I'm looking to play about 94 or 95kg this year."

Brisbane coach Michael Voss says gun recruit Brendan Fevola has recovered sufficiently from minor shoulder surgery over the pre-season and will be fit to play in the coming NAB Cup.

"Brendan can handle it fine. He's applied himself really well to his training. He loves to play and will certainly be putting his hand up, I'd have thought," Voss said.

Brisbane Lions captain Jonathan Brown won the club's best and fairest count by one vote from a fast-finishing Simon Black to claim his third straight club champion award for the club.

Brisbane Lions captain Jonathan Brown wants to atone for four years without finals action.

"Watching the finals the last four or five years has just hurt more and more," Brown said.

"To see the teams go out there and play and you almost thought it was your right to be out there playing in finals and grand finals.

"I'm glad that I can get back out and show some of my frustration on the weekend."

A complaint by Brisbane on the treatment received by captain Jonathan Brown has resulted in head of umpires Jeff Gieschen sending an email to clubs informing them that umpires will closely monitor illegal, off-the-ball treatment of forwards for the rest of the season.

Jonathan Brown speaks about his decision to stay with Brisbane after significant offers from Collingwood to become a Magpie.

''To be honest it was a consideration,'' Brown said.

''You're probably trying to weigh up what you want to do for the rest of your life. It was more the lifestyle thing and where you wanted to be.

'In the end you weigh up the footy club and I decided this was where I wanted to be.''

Jonathan Brown says Barry Hall should play on, and that not only the Bulldogs will chase him.

"If he wants to keep playing, you would think there would be interest at the end of the season," Brown said.

"I am sure he still has some good football left in him and who knows after he has time now to walk away and clear his head, get over his niggles."

Brisbane Lions skipper Jonathan Brown says the older Lions have long memories when it comes to clashes against Port Adelaide.

"There's plenty of hatred between the Lions and Port Adelaide over the years," he said.

"They always seemed to be one-point and six-point games and there used to be plenty of animosity and physicality in those contests.

"We played in some finals and they beat us on the ultimate stage in 2004 and that was hard to stomach because that was the biggest rivalry at the time along with Collingwood.

"For myself and some of the older guys there's still plenty of passion against them."

Brisbane Lions captain Jonathan Brown says utility Jared Brennan is knocking on the door of the game's upper echelon.

"The second half of last year he was nearly our best and I think he has developed into a really good player in the AFL," Brown said.

"The reason we can say that now is because he has become very consistent and he is certainly our most versatile player. He can play anywhere on the ground.

"Week-in, week-out, he is producing, especially in crunch games. He stands up in the big games, which says a lot about him.

"He had been under a lot of pressure early in his career because he was a highly touted first-round draft pick and has started to hit his straps.

"He has been fantastic for us and hopefully we can keep him fit and firing, because we need him."

Five goals to Jonathan Brown and a stunning second half sinks the Hawks at Aurora Stadium in Launceston.

Daniel Bradshaw believes his record as the Lions all-time goalscorer will not last long.

Bradshaw broke Alastair Lynch's record but believes its only a matter of time before Jonathan Brown surpasses him.

"It's nice to pass the record, Lynchy was a bloke I looked up to, but I'm only baby-sitting it for Browny," he said.

Brisbane Lions captain Jonathan Brown wishes Richmond star Matthew Richardson a speedy recovery, but is relieved the big Tiger won't be prowling around the MCG on Saturday against the Lions.

"It's been an interesting one with Richmond considering their ladder position in the past few seasons and we know this weekend, even without Richardson, they'll be extremely tough," Brown said.

The Lions coach will seek clarity from the AFL about tactics used to quell Jonathan Brown and Daniel Bradshaw during Brisbane's loss to Collingwood.

"I'll seek that out with Jeff (Gieschen) during the week exactly what they can do for my own piece of mind and just to let Braddy and Browny know what can happen," he said.

"We'll pull the vision off and send it off and make contact with Jeff during the week."

Brisbane Lions captain Jonathan Brown has called on his teammates to take the game on rather than be dictated by the opposition.

"We’re a good side when we really take the game on, force it forward and go to contests in the forward line. That’s probably the message going forward," Brown said.

Video replays would have been useless for the controversial Jonathan Brown goal that hit the post, the AFL said yesterday.

Carlton players were adamant the ball ricocheted off the post on Saturday, despite being called a goal.

But the AFL's umpiring department refused to label it an error and a long AFL review yesterday failed to provide an answer.

A charge of rough conduct against captain Jonathan Brown compounded the Brisbane Lions' miserable night at Etihad Stadium.

He was wooed by Carlton at the end of last season but Brisbane captain Jonathan Brown now wants to bury the Blues on Saturday night.

Brisbane Lions captain Jonathan Brown is likely to play his first game this year in the NAB Challenge match against Melbourne this Friday night.

Lion king Jonathan Brown has got his "bounce back" and will make his 2009 debut in Cairns tomorrow night.

Brisbane captain Jonathan Brown says he is hungrier than ever and happy he stuck with the Lions despite offers to move to Victoria.

The AFL decides not to penalise Jonathan Brown for his comments regarding Hawks forward Lance Franklin's head-high contact with Crow Michael Doughty.

Brown was critical of the rough conduct report, describing the incident as "like a fly hitting his head" while putting himself under scrutiny due to the fact that club officials and players are not permitted to comment on cases put before the match review panel.

"We accept that Jonathan Brown's comments were not intended to influence or affect the outcome of the Franklin case and no sanction will apply," AFL football operations manager Adrian Anderson said.

The Brisbane Lions head into the 2008 AFL season with four players sharing the captaincy role including Jonathan Brown, Luke Power, Simon Black and Nigel Lappin.

"Prior to 2007 we decided that a multiple co-captains model would be preferred to the singular captaincy system and it worked really well in practice, so this model will continue in 2008," Lions coach Leigh Matthews said.