Jonathan Brown

[Lady Lawrence]

over to you - Lady Lawrence - ooh hang on that's me!

OK stand by for some Browny watch updates

[Lady Lawrence]

http://lions.com.au/cp2/c2/webi/person/013106au.jpg


CAREER BRIEF
Previous Clubs: Geelong Falcons U18s/South Warrnambool
Draft Details: Father/Son Selection – 1999 National Draft
AFL Debut: Lions v Adelaide (Gabba), Rd 5, 2000
AFL Finals: 15

CAREER HISTORY
If anyone ever needed proof of why Jonathan Brown shapes as one of the AFL's most dominant forces of the next decade, they need only have watched his Round 6 display against Essendon.

Fresh off a five-game suspension stemming from the 2004 grand final and having had knee surgery in the off-season, Brown was having his first competitive hitout for 2005.

Few doubted that his presence would have an impact on a Lions side sitting at 1-4 after five games. But just how much could you expect from a player playing his first game in the best part of six months?

Plenty, as it turned out. Plus a fair bit more. To say Brown tore Essendon to shreds is to understate matters. The 195cm, 99kg powerhouse helped himself to 20 possessions, 14 marks and a then equal club record eight goals, before been rested for most of the last quarter. Highly-rated Bombers defender Dustin Fletcher was no match for him, while Ty Zantuck was shifted around by Brown as if he were a rag doll rather than a 93kg defender.

That performance highlighted Brown's importance in the Lions setup and there were plenty more reminders to come. Against at least three more opponents - Fremantle (Rd 11), Carlton (Rd 12) and Essendon (Rd 17) - he featured prominently in best afield ratings and rarely was he out of the Lions' best half-dozen. He even adapted to a new role in the centre-square for bouncedowns, showcasing an ability to clear the ball from stoppages that might have had his illustrious midfield colleagues feeling a little envious.

Sadly, the 2005 season ended with Brown in the same position he was at its beginning - watching from the stands.

Osteitis pubis flared up after the Round 15 win over Collingwood and, although he was still able to star against the Bombers two weeks later, the condition eventually got the better of him. Brown sat out three of the last four games as the Lions fell out of finals calculations and had "release" surgery on his adductor muscle in the lead-up to Round 22.

A big Brownlow betting firmer mid-year, Brown's eventual tally of 11 votes showed he would have been a definite contender for football's ultimate individual accolade had he been able to put a full season together.

Brown was a triple-premiership player before his 22nd birthday –quite an accomplishment for the likeable big fella from western Victoria.

Despite missing eight games courtesy of three suspensions dating back to the 2003 grand final Brown still finished 10th in club champion voting in 2004.

He booted 39 goals for the year, just five less than leading goalkicker Jason Akermanis, including six in the qualifying final against St Kilda. That game saw Brown reported for unduly rough play, but he was cleared to play in the preliminary final after the club argued the rules didn’t provide for the charge to be sustained as the quarter time siren had sounded and hence ‘play’ had stopped.

Brown's interrupted seasons of 2004 and 2005 came on top of a 2003 in which he polled more club champion votes over the last 10 weeks than any other player.

The man himself would love to play a full set of games in a year to see exactly how far he can take his game, something he has not been able to do since his second year at the elite level in 2001.

He was a key to all three premierships with his play at centre-half-forward, and it was no coincidence that the side lost to Port Adelaide in 2004 with Brown hampered by a sore knee that would have seen many other players sitting on the sidelines rather than playing.

The previous year saw a succession of hamstring problems through the first half of the year keep him out of action for six games.

Brown quickly built his form on return and there was no centre-half-forward in the competition better than the big man from Warrnambool. Poleaxed in the early seconds of the 2003 grand final, he nonetheless provided a target up forward on the big day and finished with two goals.

His 2002 season was solid and there was one huge highlight aside from securing a second premiership medal – the Mark of the Year gong from the AFL. Early in the third quarter of the Round 17 clash against Hawthorn at the MCG, he shrugged off opponent John Barker, sprinted 40m, and dived headfirst through a pack to mark on his chest. It was inspired, team-lifting staff that had Carlton great Stephen Silvagni describing it as close to the best mark he had seen.

Brown took a similar style but less spectacular mark against Carlton in Round 13, but twisted his ankle on landing. In all, he missed the best part of seven games due to ankle problems on three different occasions and one count of tonsillitis. Throw in a week’s suspension and he didn’t get any continuity into his football until the last seven weeks of the year.

For all that, his stats averages were similar to his stellar 2001 season, and he produced one absolute blinder against West Coast in Round 20 when he collected 25 possessions and took nine marks against five different opponents. Typical of Brown’s grit, he started on Glen Jakovich, who had torn him apart in the Round 5 clash when the big Lion rolled his ankle early.

He was a solid contributor through the finals series, providing a good contest with emerging Crows defender Ken McGregor in the qualifying final, collecting three strong marks and 15 possessions. He took nine marks and had 19 possessions in a powerful preliminary final display against Port, and had five marks and 14 touches in the grand final.

Brown took a bad whack early for which Scott Burns was later suspended in the premiership decider, but never stopped presenting himself. He kicked a huge pressure goal on a tough angle in tricky conditions a minute before three quarter time to put the Lions in front.

It was reflected what a true big-game, pressure player Brown has been since he burst onto the AFL scene.

Normally little would be expected of a 19-year-old playing in his first Grand Final, which Brown was as the youngest man on the ground in the 2001 grand final against Essendon.

Not this bloke. His efforts through 2001 had him being mentioned in the same breath as Carey and Brereton. Despite that, you could be absolutely certain of two things – Brown will keep his feet firmly on the ground and will work like a Trojan to keep bettering himself.

Ordinarily you might have expected Essendon to try and intimidate the youngster in the 2001 premiership decider. Only problem was, he had already intimidated them in the glorious Round 10 clash at the Gabba. In the Grand Final, Brown simply put his head down and went hard at the ball. He not only helped the Lions establish a clear ascendency by bustling in to help out with the centre breaks, but he provided a mobile target all day at centre-half-forward. He topped off a magnificent game, indeed a magnificent season, with two tight angled goals that both came at important times.

Amazingly, Brown finished third in the club goalkicking with 33 despite playing down the ground in just his second season at the elite level. He was a fixture in the most difficult position on the ground at centre half forward and, if he’d played three fewer games prior to the start of the season and had been eligible he would have been a certain choice for the Ansett Rising Star Award.

He didn’t miss a game all year, including the Ansett Cup, although he spent a few anxious moments prior to Round 1 after he was reported on video evidence for allegedly striking Port Adelaide's Fabian Francis in the Ansett Cup GF. He was originally suspended for three matches but had the conviction overturned and the penalty wiped during a marathon appeals hearing of three and a half hours. Brown bagged a then career-best seven goals against Geelong at the Gabba in Round 6 – an equal club record at the time – and, in a moment which underlined his leadership potential, was among the very best against Essendon in Round 10, when he kicked three goals and set the tone with his aggressive physical approach early.

Tipped to be a future Lions captain in the media, he showed enormous poise and leadership during the finals, and, with Alastair Lynch sidelined by suspension and Daniel Bradshaw under an injury cloud in the preliminary final against Richmond, he stepped up with a team-high four goals. There was talk that the Bombers would target him in the Grand Final and he replied ‘bring it on’.

He averaged 13.9 possessions and 6.3 marks for the season, and was rewarded by the match committee with the award for ‘Most Improved Player’ and finished sixth in the B&F behind the All-Australian quartet of Voss, Black, Lappin and Akermanis, and Marcus Ashcroft.

Brown showed a sign of things to come by making a huge impact on the Lions in the latter half of 2000. A string of powerful performances in the Lions Reserves side demanded his recall to the seniors after he struggled to find the ball in his initial five AFL games, and he didn’t look back after that.

A barnstorming type who doesn’t take a backward step, Brown was encouraged to roam far and wide for his kicks at centre-half-forward, and he did just that, along with providing a reliable marking target. Nine marks against Adelaide at Football Park in Round 20 signalled his emergence, and he produced further top quality games against St Kilda and Fremantle in the ensuing rounds.

And all this after he had his jaw broken twice within his first three months in the northern capital. Tough, hard and still a teenager, he has tremendous potential to turn into a genuine matchwinner in the hardest position on the ground in coming years.

Brown was recruited in 2000 as a father/son pre-draft selection from the Geelong Falcons in the TAC Cup. The son of ex-Fitzroy player Brian Brown, he won All-Australian honours in 1999 after the national U18 carnival in Brisbane and shaped as a leading candidate in the National Draft had he not committed himself to Brisbane.

So highly was he regarded that AFL junior development guru Kevin Sheahan rated him a certain top five selection, and Essendon scouts indicated he may even have been their No.1 selection. But Brown, a life-long Fitzroy supporter and cousin of Lions player Marcus Picken, was always keen to play in Brisbane in what amounted to a huge coup for the club.

Brian Brown, originally from Otway Rovers, played 51 games with Fitzroy from 1976-81 before two games at Essendon in 1983 after two broken legs in consecutive years cut short his days at the elite level. He was a member of Fitzroy’s 1978 night series premiership side – the last senior flag the old Lions won. A hard and skilful back pocket/centreman, he was a Victorian representative but admits he was ‘never quite the same’ after his twin leg fractures in mid-1979 and early 1980. Ironically, it was in one of his only two games at Essendon in ’83 when Leigh Matthews crashed into the behind post at Windy Hill and snapped it.

Jonathan is the oldest of four children, and boasts a strong football pedigree. His uncle Noel Mugavin played with Fitzroy and Richmond. And, of course, another uncle, Billy Picken, father of Marcus, played at Collingwood and Sydney.

He had a nomadic football childhood, following his father’s coaching and playing career, and made his senior debut at 15 with South Warrnambool in ’97. After establishing himself in the seniors early in ’98 he joined the Geelong Falcons in the TAC Cup mid-season.

It was the beginning of an illustrious junior career. They won 13 games in a row from 14th on the ladder and then lost the grand final to the Murray Bushrangers at the MCG by 15 points after being 62 points down at halftime.

In ’99 the Falcons finished seventh in the TAC Cup, losing in the first week of the finals without a suspended Brown. It was his second ‘holiday’ of the year and the ever-aggressive youngster acknowledges the need to be more circumspect as he stepped up to the AFL.

Brown, a centre half back in ’98, played at centre half forward in ‘99. Big and strong, with excellent hands, good kicking skill and a fierce competitive streak, he was Victorian Country’s only representative in the All-Australian U18 side.

He completed Year 12 at Emmanuel College in ’99 before moving to Brisbane, where he had done summer training with the Lions 12 months earlier.

He left behind him a promising cricket career to focus on a life-long dream to play League football. A left-arm fast bowler, he played A-Grade cricket with Wesley CBC in Warrnambool at 15, was Wesley ‘Cricketer of the Year’ two years in a row and a senior premiership player, and was invited to join the Victorian U17 squad in ’98 after doing well for his regional zone team at the State championships.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
Victorian Country Primary Schools Representative 1993, Victorian Country U18s 1999, All-Australian U18s 1999, Member Geelong Falcons TAC Cup Grand Final Side 1998, 8th Falcons B&F 1998, 3rd 1999, Member Lions’ Ansett Cup Grand Final Side 2001, Lions Most Improved Player 2001, 6th Lions B&F 2001, Lions Premiership Player 2001-2002-2003.

[Lets Roar like '44]

Browny your an absolute champion, hopefully he stays injury free he could win the Brownlow easy, definately has to be made captain!

[Lady Lawrence]

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,21170574-10389,00.html


Brown has knee scan

Andrew Hamilton
February 04, 2007 11:00pm
THE defining moment in Brisbane's season could take place today when star forward Jonathan Brown has scans on an injured knee.
Brown has battled knee soreness for the past week, but Lions coach Leigh Matthews is adamant his most important player is fine and the scans are merely precautionary.

Matthews said an initial scan late last week had revealed nothing and the test today was an extra precaution to ensure Brown could continue with his current training schedule.

"I'd expect him to train today," Matthews said.

"The scans were just a case of taking safety first, just in case something shows up that may make us modify his program."

Matthews said Brown had complained of feeling as if something had been pinched inside his knee, but the injury had not stopped him completing his regular training.

It's just that when it comes to Jonathan Brown, no precaution is too great.

Put simply, with Brown the Lions are capable of a finals finish; without him things could get ugly.

He missed the final 12 games of last season with a hip injury, suffered in round 10 against Collingwood.

The Lions are confident the latest scare is an annoyance at worst and say it should not be considered a major setback.

The injury flared two weeks ago when Brown pulled up sore during the regular Thursday night training session.

It comes as no surprise that every Lions member felt ill as the champion limped from the field.

"We were all thinking, 'oh no what the hell has he done'," Matthews said.
Greg Lee and Stephen Moulton continue to lead the race for the Blues presidency, but a bigger Carlton name – Stephen Kernahan – began to emerge as a possibility during weekend talks.

While Kernahan will be under pressure to retain his role as the club's match committee chairman, his non-football responsibilities may be increased, temporarily at least, following the axing of president Graham Smorgon from the Blues' board in the club's election last Friday night.

[Lady Lawrence]

Brown Gets All Clear (http://www.abc.net.au/sport/content/200702/s1841089.htm)


Injury-haunted Brisbane Lions star Jonathan Brown has been cleared of any damage to his knee following precautionary scans yesterday, the club announced this morning.

Brown underwent the scans on Monday after complaining of soreness during training last week.

The triple-premiership centre-half forward has now been cleared to return to full training ahead of Brisbane's opening preseason clash with St Kilda in Cairns on February 24.

The news averts what could have been a major injury setback for the Lions, who will be looking to Brown to provide some experienced leadership for their predominantly young list this season.

The 25-year-old missed the last 12 rounds of last season because of a hip injury.

[konstas_87]

thank god for that too!

sorry ive been a bit MIA all summer people but i tend to get a bit obsessed with the cricket over summer (as i do with the footy the rest of the year).
so i'll probably be back a bit more often as we ease into the season.

[Lady Lawrence]

http://www.theage.com.au/news/sport/brown-guerra-top-list-of-afl-best-winners/2007/02/08/1170524234430.html

Brown, Guerra top list of AFL best winners
Geoff McClure
February 9, 2007

JONATHAN Brown's career certainly has been a rocky one so far, thanks to on-field indiscretions and injuries, but there's no doubting his value to the team when he's up and going. And here's further reason why Brisbane Lions fans love him — the AFL's recent in-depth analysis of 100-game players (which we spoke about yesterday) has shown that he is the "winningest" player in the league. Not only has he chalked up three premierships in six years, but in his 117 games so far, only 34 of them have been losses, giving him a winning percentage of 71 per cent, the best of any current player. And while his spot at the top of the tree may not surprise too many, the next best in that category probably will.

In second spot is the much-travelled Brent Guerra, who has played 111 games with Port Adelaide, St Kilda and Hawthorn, but has the same number of losses as Brown, his 77 wins giving him a winning percentage of 69. Mind you, the duo have some work to do to match the league's all-time best.

That mantle belongs to Melbourne's Clyde Laidlaw who not only played in four premiership sides in a career that stretched from 1954 to '62, but in 124 games tasted defeat only 22 times, his 99 wins (there were three draws) giving him an amazing winning percentage of 81.

[konstas_87]

anyone think Browny will play any preseason games? where do u draw the line of not risking him and giving him a run? he may end up playing the first month of the h&a series unfit (match-practice wise).
will be interesting to see how he goes in his first appearance back.

[TheBrownDog]

Just went and watched part of the training session at Giffin Park.

Before the sesswion, Browny was doing shuttle runs and little zig-zagging sprints. Looks top notch... 100%.

[Lace Out]

Just went and watched part of the training session at Giffin Park.

Before the sesswion, Browny was doing shuttle runs and little zig-zagging sprints. Looks top notch... 100%.
He is a monty to play next week and be cherry ripe for the Hawthorn game IMO.

[Lady Lawrence]

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,21370669-11088,00.html

Brown is Ready!


JONATHAN Brown is a triple premiership player who shouldn't care about winning the NAB Cup. But he does.

"It's still a grand final, and it's something we've bloody missed," Brown said yesterday.

"I'd rather be playing that than a scratchie in front of a handful of fans and I think it does mean something, it's a good confidence builder because we've been knocked around a bit (in) the last couple of years."
Brown will play his first game since Round 10 last year when the Lions take on Carlton at Telstra Dome on Saturday night.

And after a cautious approach to his rehabilitation from back and knee injuries, Brown is ready.

"I'm jumping out of my skin," he said.

His view is a far cry from coach Leigh Matthews' attitude to the pre-season competition two weeks ago when he hinted the Lions might not try after being forced to travel interstate for consecutive games.

When told after the Lions' win against the Western Bulldogs on March 2 that his team would be playing away again, Matthews said: "Well, in that case, I don't even know if we'll try. How can they screw you like that?"
However Brown, who played in four Grand Finals in his first five years of AFL footy, said the fact Brisbane had endured two poor seasons since the loss to Port Adelaide in the 2004 decider had made the Lions hungry.

Brown said the Lions were not as bad as their results of the past two years suggested -- rather they had rarely managed to put out their best 22. He now believes there's no reason the Lions can't be a force in September.

"If we get all our experienced blokes back, combined with the exciting youth we've got, we're good enough to be finals contenders this year," he said. "If we lost Nigel (Lappin) or Blackie (Simon Black) or Luke (Power) we'd be in just as much trouble, no team can afford to lose its stars, it's just that the loss of forwards is more measurable because they kick goals."

The Lions' accommodation problems have been resolved, although the Novotel in Glen Waverley hardly compares in location to their regular digs on St Kilda Rd.

The players face a bus trip of more than an hour from the airport to their hotel on Friday and the slightest traffic problems could see them on the road for up to 45 minutes on the way to the ground on game day.

After spending the campaign with the attitude that winning wasn't a priority and giving young players valuable experience was, the Lions have now shelved any developmental practices to go for a victory -- to a point.

In a break from their routine of the past month, players involved in last Friday night's semi-final win over the Cats were rested from team training last night to have them fresh for the weekend.

However there'll be no risks taken and Daniel Bradshaw and Jamie Charman must convince the match committee they are 100 per cent before they are considered.

With the return of Brown and the continued form of Beau McDonald and Cameron Wood, it is likely only one of Bradshaw or Charman will travel with the team.

Bradshaw trained last night but Charman missed and his achilles soreness is causing concern.

Charman's loss would be softened if Bradshaw returns up forward for the Lions. And with Brown back, Brisbane can counter the loss of Charman if, as expected, he's ruled out of the grand final.

Matthews will call on youngster Daniel Merrett to mind in-form Blues full-forward Brendan Fevola.

"He's developed into a good player and he's built up to this over the last few weeks,' Matthews said.

Nigel Lappin continues to battle an elbow injury and, while he trained last night, he'll head into the new season with no match practice. - with Jim Wilson

[Grimreepah]

Link (http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/brisbane/0,24746,21496170,00.html)

Key Lion: Jonathan Brown

Profile by Scott Heinrich
FOXSPORTS.com.au

THE closest thing the AFL has had to Wayne Carey since Wayne Carey is Jonathan Brown, the forward hulk of Brisbane Lions.

When fit and firing, Brown is a defender’s worst nightmare: big, strong, fast, skilled, aggressive – he really has it all.

Whether in his rightful position at centre half-forward or at full forward, Brown is invariably the focal point of any attacking move.

His dominance inside the 50m arc was there for all to see during the Lions’ triple-premiership years.

It was as a 19 year old that Brown laid down a marker for the future with a dominant display in the 2001 grand final against Essendon, and by the time he was 22 he had three premiership medals around his neck.

An array of injuries, most notably hamstring and knee, have denied Brown a full season every year since 2001, and 2006 virtually passed him by thanks to knee surgery.

The Lions were all at sea without their star man and were regularly among the lowest-scorers in the league.

Although Brown was born and bred in Victoria – where as a junior he showed above average ability as a left-arm paceman in cricket – Brown was recruited by Brisbane Lions on the father-son rule.

Jonathan is the son of Brian Brown, who played 51 games for Fitzroy between 1976 and 1981.


http://img110.imageshack.us/img110/8987/brownmw9.jpg

Link
(http://www.sportsaustralia.com/articles/news.php?id=915)
THE KEY: JONATHAN BROWN
As the primary front-runner to snare Brisbane’s captaincy, the influence and experience of Jonathan Brown will play a major factor in the club’s outcome for the upcoming season.

Now if that’s not enough gravity weighing someone down, the 25-year-old Brown will have to battle his way against injuries that have plagued him throughout his career.

The powerhouse forward commences his eighth season in the AFL on the back of a largely uninterrupted pre-season other than an injury scare to his knee in February before that was cleared of any damage.

Brown missed the final 12 rounds of 2006 due to a hip injury in a season that had otherwise been damaging for the right reasons, kicking 35 goals in 10 games to improve his career tally to 191 and 117 respectively.

It will warm the hearts of the hierarchy and supporters of the Brisbane Lions knowing that if Brown can enjoy a season without any setbacks, a top-eight berth could become reality.

Intriguingly enough, in his 117 appearances for the club, Brown has been involved in 83 victories. That delivers an individual winning percentage of 71, which is the best of any current players in the league.

Link (http://www.thewest.com.au/aapstory.aspx?StoryName=363880)

Jonathan Brown's injury 'jinx over'


Last year's season-ending injury to key forward Jonathan Brown could have been avoided, according to Brisbane Lions teammate Nigel Lappin.But the veteran midfielder is convinced Lions medical staff have finally solved Brown's injury jinx.
And Lappin is also confident of making "an impact" in the AFL at 30 after emerging from a year-long battle with injury.
Brown will play his first game since round 10 last year in Brisbane's surprise NAB Cup AFL pre-season final appearance against Carlton in Melbourne on Saturday night.
It is a morale boost for a Lions outfit that has relied heavily on Brown during their rebuilding phase.
Brown's importance was never more evident than last season when he kicked 35 goals by round 10 to have the Lions one win out of the top eight.
Brown then went down with a season-ending hip stress fracture and Brisbane won just three of their 12 remaining games to finish 13th.
However, Lappin - who missed last season with an ankle injury - said Brown's injury woes were finally behind him after learning from his 2006 mistakes.
"I think he is on top of a lot of his injury problems," Lappin told AAP.
"We've got fantastic medical staff here but there were a couple of things he thought if they were pointed out to him at the start of the (2006) season he could have worked on and maybe avoided the stress injury that he ended up with.
"We had tests and it was pointed out to him that he was deficient in one area and he felt that had he worked on that he would have been fine.
"But you've got to move on from that. And Browny is his own worst enemy - he just trains so hard.
"Sometimes you've got to pull it back a little bit. So I think you will find he will play most of the season."
Not that Brown has changed his "no holds barred" approach.
"The way he plays he has always opened himself up to the chance of getting injured because he is so hard on the footy - you are not going to see him stop doing that," Lappin said.
"But I am pretty confident he will play most of the season."
Lappin - who has ruled himself out of making a comeback against Carlton - said Brown's injury history should not count against him when coach Leigh Matthews decides a replacement for retired skipper Michael Voss.
"He's a natural leader," he said.
"He trains hard and plays hard. And when he is out there the guys walk a bit taller.
"He's a big, strong man who everyone wants to follow."
Lappin had overcome ankle surgery before his 2007 pre-season plans hit a snag with an elbow injury.
But Lappin has cautiously pencilled in his comeback for the opening AFL round clash against Hawthorn at the Gabba on March 31.
"It (the elbow injury) was really frustrating. I was in the best shape of my career in terms of pre-season training," he said.
But a comeback at 30 does not worry Lappin.
"Nobody knows how I will go. We won't know until five or six weeks down the track when I am match fit," he said.
"Hopefully if people are saying I can't (bounce back) I can prove them wrong.
"I definitely think I will be able to have a really good season and make some sort of impact hopefully in a successful year for the Lions."


http://img406.imageshack.us/img406/6159/brownep4.jpg

[danielcanberra]

http://www.afl.com.au/Season2007/News/NewsArticle/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsId=39730
18 March 2007
Brown set for big 2007 season

Brought to you by ADAM COOPER, AAP
News

Brisbane Lions star Jonathan Brown has his sights on a big 2007 season after wiping away any doubts he had over returning from injury.

Although he could not inspire his side to victory in the NAB Cup grand final against Carlton on Saturday night, the powerhouse forward got through his first game since halfway through last year and was satisfied with a match return of 11 marks and two goals.

"It was good to be back," Brown said after his Lions lost 2.12.7 (97) to 0.10.12 (72) at Telstra Dome.

"I didn't set the world on fire, but I expected I was going to be a bit rusty and I couldn't quite stick them in the first half and it started coming a bit in the second half.

"I was pretty happy with the hit-out though.

"By the end of the game I felt like I was starting to get my rhythm and now I've just got to do a little bit of work in the next few days and then taper off and freshen up for round one."

After being plagued by hip and back problems since round 10 last year, Brown was "blowing hard" at times through the grand final decider, but felt good physically afterwards.

"The main thing was for the body to get through the night and not to walk off feeling like I'm an old man," said Brown, 25.

"I walked off feeling pretty good, so that's hopeful."

Brown was pleased to wipe away any lingering doubts he had about returning after two injury-affected seasons.

"Just because of the time frame of being out for bordering on nearly 10 months out before round one," he said.

"It's a long time to be out of football and you do have a little bit of doubt, firstly on how your body's going to hold up and how you're playing the game.

"I'm certainly a lot more confident now after that game.

"It was nothing special, but I got to have a crack at about 40-50 contests and really, that's my game. The more contests I can get the better you're going to get."

Brown plans to train normally until Thursday and then restrict himself to light duties to freshen up before the round one clash against Hawthorn at the Gabba on March 31.

[konstas_87]

im pumped! bring on rd 1!!
Browny for 2007 Brownlow/Coleman!!

[danielcanberra]

Congratulations on being appointed captain.

[scott522]

Congratulations on being appointed captain.

And so say all of us !

[Lady Lawrence]

Carey Gives Brown Nod Over Hall (http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,,21536655-23211,00.html?from=public_rss)


BARRY Hall or Jonathan Brown? If you had to choose, who would it be?
Their statistics are near-identical, both prolific power forwards, co-captains of their respective clubs, match-winners and premiership players.
Hall, 29, has three all-Australian jumpers and one premiership while Brown, 25, staggeringly has no all-Australian honours but three flags. So which is better?
The Daily Telegraph asked the greatest centre half-forward of all-time and the player whom both Hall and Brown have modelled themselves on, Wayne Carey.
"They are both great players," Carey said. "Both are very good at what they do and bring a lot to our great game.
"As key forwards they kick about 20 per cent of their side's goals for the year, they are leaders out on the ground and other players walk taller because they are out there.
"But Brown or Hall?
"Tough question ... Barry has been more resilient but Jonathan is a bit younger. If I was to pick one at this stage in their careers I would take Jonathan Brown, only because of his age."
Hall and Brown, fitness prevailing, will have major bearings on the Swans-Lions clash on Sunday at the SCG.
Hall, who has not missed through injury since joining Sydney in 2002, is expected to play despite a knee injury.
Of the 118 matches Hall has played for Sydney in those years, they have won 69 - or 58 per cent. Of the 119 matches Brown has played, the Lions have won 85 - or 71 per cent.
The stats reflect Brisbane's superior winning percentage in general over that period - but also their reliance on Brown, especially in the post-Alastair Lynch era.
Carey estimates Sydney and Brisbane to be 20 per cent better sides with Hall and Brown playing.
Respected AFL voice, Swans Team of the Century midfield player and Kangaroos premiership player Wayne Schwass quantified their value in goals, saying the Lions and Swans are both three to five goals better when Hall and Brown are playing.
"And I would argue that Barry Hall or Jonathan Brown at 60 per cent is equal to a number of players at 90-100 per cent, they bring that much to each respective team," Schwass said.
"If you don't have those players in the team you are anywhere from three to five goals worse off.
"Presence is something I value greatly. Players of that stature are up there with the likes of (Michael) Voss, Carey, (Gary) Ablett, (James) Hird. It is wonderful as a teammate to have them out there."
While West Coast midfield genius Chris Judd is almost unanimously regarded as the best in the league, Schwass and Carey would pick both Brown and Hall before the Eagle in their dream teams.
"I would go Jonathan Brown or Barry Hall first and then complement that if I could with Chris," Schwass said. "Chris is without doubt the best midfielder in the competition but as a coach you have less of a chance of getting a key position centre half-forward because they are so much harder to come by.
"As for Brown versus Hall? Jonathan is not afraid to crash the pack, he has just got that game-breaking, pack-splitting characteristic. Whereas Barry has more strings to the bow in regards to one-on-one contests.
"He works his way into a lot of space whereas Browny does mind if there are a number of players around him.
"If I had to pick who I would mould my side around now, I'd say Brown just ahead of Hall."
Garry Lyon, expert commentator and former Australian coach, agreed:
"The Lions are an infinitely better team with Brown ... it is a little bit different with Hall because the Swans share the load more," Lyon said.
"Barry Hall is a superstar so it is so hard to go past him but purely on age you would go for Jonathan Brown."

[LuckyLuke]

Nominated for goal of the week this week against Sydney. Nice one too... over the sholder, deep in the pocket. Best one this week i thought. (bias warning)

[Grimreepah]

Link (http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,21703515%255E19746,00.html)

Brown works on yips
10 May 2007 Herald-Sun
Andrew Hamilton

BRISBANE Lions marksman Jonathan Brown skipped training last night in favour of finetuning his goalkicking radar.
Brown's usually reliable accuracy has deserted him at stages this season, but if recent history is anything to go by he should be on target against Adelaide at the Gabba on Saturday night.
Brown started the season in deadly goalkicking form, nailing his first nine straight before a blemish.
Then came his shocker against the Kangaroos at Carrara in Round 4 when he booted 1.5. Since then it has been good one week, bad the next.
Last week against Fremantle he failed to split the big sticks with his first three attempts but recovered to finish the day with a respectable 2.2.
He was clearly the best afield the previous week against Carlton and of the 3.2 he kicked that night, two goals were beauties from tight angles.
The Lions co-captain usually does only one main training session a week and more specific training on another. His weekly schedule is modified because of his recent run of injuries.
Friday is usually his light day but it was switched this week because the Lions played on Sunday and the club is taking the ultra-cautious route after he sat out most of the last quarter after landing heavily in a marking contest.
Yesterday he did a boxing session, then spent half an hour practising set shots under the watchful eyes of forwards coach Paul Hudson.

http://img160.imageshack.us/img160/1104/brownti5.jpg
Hard to fault: Brisbane Lions forward Jonathan Brown practises his goalkicking at training yesterday.

[BigCat2]

(Brown) usually does only one main training session a week and more specific training on another. His weekly schedule is modified because of his recent run of injuries.

That's possibly the most important piece of information out of that article, so now we know exactly how he's being managed.

[TheBrownDog]

Could Brown get his second Mark of The Year award for this beauty?

DSPGZYKzu3U

Here is his effort that saw him win the Mark of The Year award in 2002.

tx7cd5rENuQ

[konstas_87]

watching that hawthorn one again i nearly wet myself:p
bloody brilliant.

[Grimreepah]

Link (http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,21926498-5003410,00.html)

Shift Brown back

Andrew Hamilton
June 19, 2007 12:00am

FORMER Brisbane captain, coach and full forward Roger Merrett says the Lions must be smarter in the way they use Jonathan Brown or shift him to centre half-back.
Merrett, who booted 285 goals in 164 games for the Lions, said the current game plan was "killing" Brown. Brown has battled manfully this season for 26 goals but has his work cut out because the Lions refuse to consider manning up on the loose defenders that flood their forward line, leaving the co-captain constantly double- and triple-teamed.
"It is an option Leigh Matthews has to address," Merrett said.
"Jonathan Brown, one-on-one, you'd back him in 80 per cent of the time.
"But at the moment he's up against two, three and sometimes four defenders.
"It is really tough on Jonathan and the Lions have to be smarter."
Merrett also flagged a shift to defence to free Brown of the shackles opposing teams have placed on him which would allow his football smarts and decision making to have an impact on the game.
"It might throw opposition off," he said.
"He reads the game well and he can set up a lot from there.
"I'm not saying permanently.
"I put Justin Leppitsch on to Tony Lockett one day and he became a great defender."
Merrett believes Brown's true value is as a centre half-forward, but claims he is being wasted because of the Lions' game plan and their slow ball movement into attack.
"There is a huge amount of pressure on him because of retirements and injuries and it is starting to take its toll," he said.
"Losing Bradshaw was a devastating blow too.
"But they really need to deliver it better, just bombing it in on top of him is killing him."
Merrett sees a lot of the Lions through his job as an ABC radio commentator.
He said Brisbane's midfielders needed to work harder on laying blocks and shepherds, which would ease pressure on the ball carrier and allow cleaner delivery into attack.
"As long as a player has time and space at AFL level, they should be able to deliver it neatly," he said.
"If they protected the ball carrier he should be able to give it to him (Brown) low and direct, not bombed in on top of him."
Merrett's other major observation on the plight of the once-mighty club is that there was too much reliance on the senior players.
"The young players that are coming up are not taking enough workload off the senior players," he said.
"They don't have a lot of options because there's a lack of personnel."


http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/1405/brown2az2.jpg

[konstas_87]

i liked the article by Rog.
Browny is probably a bit slow to be CHB and i dont think it would do his body any favours, but i dont mind the idea.

He is right about one thing, Leigh cant just sit around wishing we had Bradshaw and accepting Brown is ineffective, thats rubbish.

He needs to change something!
A good start would be manning up Brownys 4 opponents, and teaching the kids to lead AWAY from browny to make some space, and the midfielders to actually use these other guys to make the defenders accountable.

easier said than done :)

[Grimreepah]

Link (http://lions.com.au/Season2007/News/NewsArticle/tabid/5085/Default.aspx?newsId=45982)

Brown earns Goal of the Year nomination

12:59 PM Tue 26 June, 2007

JONATHAN Brown has earned a nomination for Goal of the Year for his memorable snap against Geelong.
Brown again showed why he is one of the best players in the competition, hooking a sensational goal from tight on the boundary after avoiding a tackle from Cats defender Matthew Egan.
You can view Jonathan’s goal and vote for him at www.afl.com.au/markgoal (http://www.afl.com.au/markgoal).

http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/4638/browngd3.jpg

[TheBrownDog]

That is his second goal of the year nomination this year.

Was also nominated for another freakish snap goal vs the Swans in round 3.

[Grimreepah]

Link (http://lions.com.au/Season2007/News/NewsArticle/tabid/5085/Default.aspx?newsId=46616)

Brown expects "the best Ben Cousins"

7:08 PM Wed 4 July, 2007
Brought to you by Laine Clark,

RUST won't be a problem for wayward West Coast midfielder Ben Cousins when he makes his much-anticipated AFL return, according to a man who should know.
Wary Lions key forward Jonathan Brown - no stranger to comebacks himself - is expecting the "best Ben Cousins" to run out for West Coast against Brisbane on Saturday night.
AFL medicos are due to arrive in Perth to determine whether Cousins will make his return at Subiaco Oval after three months out following rehabilitation for substance abuse.
Despite the long sidelines stint, Brown believed Cousins would pick up where he left off.
"Sometimes first up you are at your best. I reckon half the time you go in without putting pressure on yourself," Brown said.
"Usually that's when you play your best, when you are nice and relaxed.
"His last game of footy was 12 weeks ago and I think he was best on ground in that.
"He looks like he is in pretty good shape, so we've got to go out there expecting the best Ben Cousins."
The "nice and relaxed" theory worked for Brown when he returned from a five-match suspension and off-season knee surgery in round six, 2005 to kick eight goals against a shell-shocked Essendon.
Brown hinted that the AFL should let Cousins return sooner rather than later, saying playing footy would be the "best remedy" for the premiership-winning midfielder.
He just wished it would be a week later.
"I am expecting him (to play), I think it would be good for Ben and Eagles supporters - but not great for us," Brown laughed.
"It would be great to see one of the game's great players back out there playing, put all this behind him, I hope.
"He's proven in the past that he is probably one of the most mentally strong players going around.
"He's handled a bit of off-field controversy. I'm sure he will handle it.
"It's difficult circumstances but playing football will probably be the best remedy for him."
Brown kept his fingers crossed that he would not have to attempt many more comebacks of his own in the near future.
The Lions co-captain has constantly battled injury and is only just shrugging off a back stress fracture that cut short his 2006 season.
"I've felt as good as I have for a fair while. I've done a lot of preventative work so I am pretty confident there will be no stress injuries in the second half of the year," he said.



http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/1518/brownth4.jpg

[Grimreepah]

Link (http://lions.com.au/Season2007/News/NewsArticle/tabid/5085/Default.aspx?newsId=46614)

Brown's Fitzroy fables

6:53 PM Wed 4 July, 2007
for lions.com.au

Vodafone Brisbane Lions co-captain Jonathan Brown couldn’t be happier with the club’s choice of colours for the AFL’s annual Heritage Round.

The Lions will salute their rich Victorian history against the West Coast Eagles at Subiaco Oval on Saturday evening by wearing a replica of the last Fitzroy Guernsey worn by the original Lions from the late 1970s until 1996.

It will be the first opportunity for Brown – a passionate Fitzroy supporter in his junior years – to wear the same Guernsey that he idolised as a kid in an official AFL match.

“It’s just great to wear it,” Brown said. “As a young fella growing up, I was a mad Fitzroy supporter. I used to go to the games and get into the rooms afterwards to see all the old players.”

“Towards the end, there were some tough years at Fitzroy but after we’d have a win I’d wear the jumper to school the next day.”

The Lions take on the reigning premiers at Subiaco this weekend in what is arguably the toughest task in football. Although the team hasn’t beaten the Eagles at the Perth stadium since 2001, Brown is not ruling out the chance of an upset victory.

“It’s always good to go over there and have a crack at one of the top sides,” he said. “They’re going to be tough that’s for sure, but it can be done.”

Brown remembered some memorable victories by Fitzroy against the Eagles when the odds were heavily stacked up against them in the early 1990s.

“I think that even though the boys were struggling, they won a couple of good games over in Perth late in the Fitzroy days,” he recalls. “Hopefully that’s a good omen.”

Ironically, Subiaco Oval is also where the Fitzroy Lions played their final AFL match against Fremantle back in Round 22, 1996

The Fitzroy Guernsey will have further significance for the star Lions forward as it is the same jumper design that was worn by his father and uncle at Fitzroy in the late 1970s.

“I’ve obviously got a bit of a history (with Fitzroy) considering my dad and uncle played there.”

His father Brian Brown played 51 games for Fitzroy between 1976 and 1981 while his uncle Noel Mugavin played 41 matches for the ‘Roys from 1978 to 1981.

Jonathan Brown will reunite with his family and a host of other current and former players at the Melbourne Convention Centre for one of the largest scale reunions in VFL/AFL history. The upcoming Kings of the Pride reunion function held in Melbourne on Saturday 11 August will acknowledge every player that has played a senior match with Fitzroy, the Bears or the Brisbane Lions.


http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/3853/brownjh5.jpg

[Grimreepah]

Link (http://www.theage.com.au/news/Sport/Lions-dont-want-Fevola-says-Matthews/2007/07/09/1183833418480.html)

Matthews said Brown was not "as tuned up" as he could be after being placed in cotton wool at training.
Not that you could tell - Brown's four goals helped set up the Lions' 27-point upset over West Coast at Subiaco last Saturday night and took his season tally to 34.
However, Matthews believed Brown was not near the form of his past two seasons which were cut short by injury.
"There's no doubt that Jonathan's first half of 2005, 2006 were better than the first half of 2007 but he's still been very good," he said.
"He's got to take each game by the scruff of the neck to live up to his reputation and capabilities.
"He's been a very good contributor but not quite at that level."
Matthews said Brown had also been troubled by a virus recently.
"He's had a nasty virus/cough for the last four or five weeks, that's probably having an effect which is a bit unknown," he said.
"And having lost him for the second half of the last two seasons, part of what we tried to do with Jonathan is to do our best to help him with his conditioning and preparation.
"In effect I don't think he is as tuned up as he possibly could be but he has done extremely well."


http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/4707/brownng5.jpg

[Grimreepah]

Link (http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,22063045-5003410,00.html)

Better things to come

Article from: http://www.news.com.au/images/sources/h14_thecouriermail.gif (http://www.thecouriermail.news.com.au/?from=ni_story)

Jonathan Brown
July 13, 2007 12:00am

THERE is one huge message that the Lions must take out of last Saturday's fantastic win against West Coast in Perth as we look towards the last eight weeks of the season.
You can have all the flashy skills in the world, and everything that goes with it, but the most important ingredient in a winning formula is pressure and tackling.
And you've got to be prepared to take a chance, too – to risk making a mistake in an effort to create a positive.
I don't want to linger on a game played six days ago and is now part of history. But I can't just dismiss such a sensational performance when virtually nobody gave us any hope.
Grand finals aside, it was among the best wins of my career. Only two other games that can match it come quickly to mind – the round 10 Predator game against Essendon in 2001, after Leigh Matthews said "if it bleeds you can kill it", and the 2003 preliminary final against Sydney at Telstra Stadium, when we were gone for all money at three-quarter time.
This was just as good. And the big stat was "one percenters" – Lions 120, Eagles 60.
We tackled, chased, pressured, smothered and spoiled the defending premiers until they had nothing left. And we were prepared to get the ball moving quickly.
For a side in which there were 14 players with less than 50 AFL games experience, and 10 players who had never won in Perth before, it was sensational.
Fast forward 10 years and I promise you that no matter what they achieve Colm Begley, Jared Brennan, Will Hamill, Rhan Hooper, Matthew Leuenberger, Wayde Mills, Joel Patfull, Michael Rischitelli, Jason Roe and Cheynee Stiller will remember every detail of their first win in Perth.
I'll certainly never forget mine. It was round 11, 2001 – the week after the Predator game. And it was the club's first win over West Coast in Perth.
It's the toughest trip in the AFL – four days away, a long flight to a different time zone, a ground that is bigger than anything else, an opposition which always runs hard and a wildly parochial crowd.
There was a huge sense of achievement among the group as we enjoyed a feed together last Saturday night, and a genuine belief that if we can beat West Coast in Perth we can beat anyone.
You must believe to achieve, and it started when we came from 40 points down in the final quarter to pull level with Port Adelaide the week before.
Even if we didn't quite finish the job that night, everyone in the group realised that we can compete with the best. And I reckon now each player in our group believes that.
It can be the catalyst for better things to come but we've got to get the same contribution and workrate from everyone – starting tomorrow night against Melbourne at the Gabba.
We cannot afford even a minute drop-off in intensity just because we've had a great win.
Don't be fooled by Melbourne's 15th place on the ladder. They've won three of their last five and it should have been four in Neale Daniher's last game. They are one of the form sides in the competition playing with a lot of freedom under caretaker coach Mark Riley and nothing to lose. Only our best will be good enough.


http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/7186/brown4lz3.jpg

http://img102.imageshack.us/img102/8738/brown3eo8.jpg

[Grimreepah]

Link

`Forget about Riewoldt'

Marco Monteverde
July 19, 2007 12:00am

JONATHAN Brown says Brisbane should focus on improving its midfield depth rather than worry about Nick Riewoldt's decision to re-sign with St Kilda.
Brown, who yesterday described the Lions' interest in the Saints star as merely "speculation", said the club did not need further presence in the forward line.
"We've got Mitch Clark, Daniel Bradshaw, Jared Brennan and myself – that's more than enough key forwards and we're all pretty young," Brown said yesterday.
"Nick's a great player and he would add to your side but at the end of the day we need to build an even side.
"You need even sides to win premierships. That's what the club's embarking on.
"These days you need more than half of your list to be midfielders, with the amount of rotation."
At 31, Nigel Lappin is the oldest of a Brisbane midfield that also includes Simon Black, 28, and Luke Power, 27.
"Hopefully Lappo's got two or three years in the tank, but a couple of those guys aren't going to be around for ever, so that's usually the first point a club looks to bolster," Brown said.
"The club has drafted well so I'm not sure what tack they'll take in the draft, but without getting too far ahead of ourselves, we're building a good list."


http://img256.imageshack.us/img256/2563/browncj1.jpg

CHAMPAGNE stuff . . . V8 Supercar star Craig Lowndes celebrates yesterday after beating Team Vodafone co-driver Jamie Whincup and Brisbane Lions' Jonathan Brown, right, in a remote-control car race at the Gabba.

[Grimreepah]

Well done Browny on becoming the first Brisbane Lion to kick 10 goals in a game.:thumbsu:

http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/3154/brownrv9.jpg

[Kochie 16]

All Hail Jonathan Brown!!!

[lionslady]

AGREED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

he our very own superman!

[konstas_87]

what a legend! how was the atmosphere in the last 10 minutes? awesome!

[lionsrock9]

Brilliant Brilliant effort what a Champion !!! :thumbsu::thumbsu::thumbsu:

[Grimreepah]

Link (http://www.theage.com.au/news/Sport/Brown-kicks-10-goals-against-Blues/2007/07/22/1185042932384.html)

Brown kicks 10 goals against Blues

July 22, 2007 - 4:24PM

Call him a hard marker, but Brisbane Lions coach Leigh Matthews reckons Jonathan Brown's record 10-goal effort in their 117-point AFL win over Carlton at the Gabba was not the forward's best game.
Brown, 25, became the first man to kick 10 goals in Brisbane's history, ensuring Carlton suffered their second-worst ever defeat - 25.13 (163) to 6.10 (46).
It was the third straight win for Brisbane, keeping their slim finals hopes alive.
While Matthews described Brown's 10-goal, one-behind performance as "exceptional", he had seen better from the big man.
"He was fantastic. But I still think that game he played against Essendon in 2005 - that may well have been the best individual game if you want to nit pick," the Lions coach said.
He was referring to Brown's eight-goal effort against Essendon in 2005 after missing the first five rounds due to suspension.
Brown had just one major to his name by the first break and only three by half-time before erupting in the second stanza as the Lions roared to a club record win over a "demoralised" Blues - easily eclipsing their 97-point victory of 1996.
"I got nine in the under 13s once so it was good to get the 10," Brown laughed.
"Obviously the delivery was fantastic and Carlton's pressure dropped away in the second half through the middle of the ground so it gave our mids (midfielders) a lot of time and space to hit up the forwards."
The ecstatic 27,163-strong crowd could sense a record haul after Brown's ninth and gave a massive cheer when the big man marked on the 50m line in the dying minutes.
"After I kicked my ninth I thought the boys might try and look after me," Brown laughed.
"I was still a fair way out but I don't know what was happening.
"There must have been a bit of wind up because they were travelling a lot further than I have kicked in my life I reckon."
The exceptional effort put another nail in the coffin of coach Denis Pagan's future at Carlton, but even the Blues coach gushed over Brown.
"He's one of the best players in the competition. He's a true, high-grade player," Pagan said.
"He is right up with the top one, two, three in the competition - I have said that from day one.
"He was just outstanding. The way the ball was coming in, his talent and strength, just amazing."


http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/1862/brownwt1.jpg

[TheBrownDog]

I spoke to him at the after the siren event.

Told him he was hopeless today and that he better bloody get a kick next week.

Good times.

[Grimreepah]

http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/327/brownda1.jpg

Acuguy mentioned he seemed to be looking to mark with his hands more instead of on his chest. Might be something to keep an eye out for.

[ZoBlitz]

Unstoppable.

Also this will be the first time where he's kicked 50 goals in a season.

[POBT]

http://i17.tinypic.com/61je4c1.jpg

Acuguy mentioned he seemed to be looking to mark with his hands more instead of on his chest. Might be something to keep an eye out for.
Without wanting to steal acuguy's thunder, this is something I noticed too. I reckon he got away with chest marks when he played up the ground as he had more space on his opponent due to his exceptional running ability. Posted more permanently as a forward, good defenders are able to stick a little closer and get a fist in - marking out front is then more important.

Another thing I noticed is that Browny seems to be much smarter in his play. I haven't been to games so I can't say for certain but it appears to me that he is working incredibly hard in that space between 30 and 60 metres from goal. He seems to use his immense aerobic advantage with double and triple leads and providing dummy leads. I would say he is working almost as hard as he did when he played that wide-ranging CHF role.

[dmac_55]

Return of the Dukes!!

What a presence. In that game against Essendon he was scary, whereas on Sunday he outplayed and outclassed everyone.

A joy to watch

[konstas_87]

Without wanting to steal acuguy's thunder, this is something I noticed too. I reckon he got away with chest marks when he played up the ground as he had more space on his opponent due to his exceptional running ability. Posted more permanently as a forward, good defenders are able to stick a little closer and get a fist in - marking out front is then more important.
Another thing I noticed is that Browny seems to be much smarter in his play. I haven't been to games so I can't say for certain but it appears to me that he is working incredibly hard in that space between 30 and 60 metres from goal. He seems to use his immense aerobic advantage with double and triple leads and providing dummy leads. I would say he is working almost as hard as he did when he played that wide-ranging CHF role.

very good call, completley agree.
he has such a great pair of hands anyway, dont waste them!

[Lehban]

Is Brownie still carring an injury? He seemed to be holding his hip after he crashed into the ground at one stage. :confused:

[notting18]

Is Brownie still carring an injury? He seemed to be holding his hip after he crashed into the ground at one stage. :confused:

No signs of the injury....i think it just hurts when you crash into a post that hard! We all have "heart in mouth" situations when browny gets a knock, etc though

[Grimreepah]

Link (http://www.thewest.com.au/aapstory.aspx?StoryName=402393)

Jonathan Brown gets his AFL groove back

23rd July 2007, 11:35 WST

A record 10-goal haul is impressive enough - but it seems Brisbane Lions key forward Jonathan Brown is only just getting warmed up.
Brown reckons he has finally got his groove back after cutting loose with a club record tally in Brisbane's 117-point mauling of a hapless Carlton at the Gabba.
The Lions co-captain has had a long history of fitness dramas but denied niggling injuries have been the reason behind his erratic display in front of goal earlier this season.
In the first 12 rounds, Brown kicked 26 goals but also 19 behinds.
In the last four games he has amassed an incredible 24 majors and just four behinds.
"I was a bit out of rhythm. My action has always been pretty solid, but I didn't try and change anything - I just backed myself in and eventually it came good," Brown said.
"I usually kick my best when I am most relaxed. Everyone's an expert from the grandstand but ... I know what works for me."
Brown took his 2007 goal tally to 50, joint second overall in the league and easily his highest season haul since his injury-plagued career began in 2000.
With six games left, Brown is in line to add the Coleman Medal to his three premierships.
"I've been able to get to more contests and put in more second, third and fourth efforts, which is what I've always built my game on," Brown said.
"I reckon in the last month I've almost managed to get to double the amount of contests.
"And the more times you go to the well, the more you get a chance to drink, I suppose."
And Brown is feeling particularly thirsty as he lines up Collingwood at the MCG on Saturday night.
Lions coach Leigh Matthews said it was no coincidence that his side had won three straight during Brown's form resurgence.
"We had a few games earlier in the year where he (Brown) was getting his five shots and probably kicking 2.3," Matthews said.
"There is a morale boost, apart from the scoreboard boost, when your main target forward kicks accurately - it lifts everybody.
"And if they kick inaccurately it also deflates everybody. There were a few games where that probably happened a bit and we lost some of those games."
Brown may be the shining light but the co-captain believes the Lions' restructured forward line also deserves plenty of kudos.
The likes of Wayde Mills, Robert Copeland and Jared Brennan have moved up forward from the defensive line with tremendous results in the last month.
"They are all playing their role really well. They are all targets, keeping all the defenders honest so they can't drop off," Brown said.
"They have played most of their time in defence so they are enjoying playing in the forward line - they've got a big smile on their faces."
And for now, so has Matthews.


http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/2922/brownje8.jpg

[Grimreepah]

Link (http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,22124394-5003410,00.html)

Gongs in line for Brown

Article from: http://www.news.com.au/images/sources/h14_thecouriermail.gif (http://www.thecouriermail.news.com.au/?from=ni_story)

Marco Monteverde
July 24, 2007 12:00am

NO one ever doubted the talent of Jonathan Brown. It was only his suspect body that stood in the way of the Brisbane Lions talisman adding individual honours to his three premiership medals.
But having finally shrugged off a variety of injuries, including the hip problem that restricted him to 10 matches last season, the 2007 model Brown is finally in sight of at least three personal gongs. All-Australian selection seems a formality, the club champion honour is within his grasp and if he keeps up his recent average of six goals a game, the prestigious Coleman Medal is Brown's for the taking.
Brown's 10 majors against Carlton on Sunday took him to 50 goals for the season, only two behind Coleman Medal leader, Western Bulldog Brad Johnson.
The Lions co-captain said the key to him being in contention for several honours had been his ability to play each of Brisbane's 16 matches this season.
"My consistency in the last three or four years has been very good when I've been out on the field, but you've just got to be able to string more games together," Brown said yesterday.
"Hopefully I can get that last six (games) to get through the year because I've done a lot of work in the off season to improve my body. At the moment I'm feeling really good.
"If I can play a full season I reckon I can achieve a couple of those (awards)."
Brown's 10 goals against Carlton broke the Brisbane record for most majors in a match, previously held jointly by injured Lion Daniel Bradshaw and former Bear Brad Hardie.
His recent goal spree is in stark contrast to earlier in the season when he struggled for accuracy.
"At the end of the day, my percentages have always been pretty good and my technique's usually pretty sound," Brown said.


http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/5647/browndo7.jpg

[TheBrownDog]

Coleman and All-Australian seem attainable.

As for club champion... I reckon Jed may be a nose in front at this stage.

[TheBrownDog]

I liked this quote too.

"I was a bit out of rhythm. My action has always been pretty solid, but I didn't try and change anything - I just backed myself in and eventually it came good," Brown said.
"I usually kick my best when I am most relaxed. Everyone's an expert from the grandstand but ... I know what works for me."

[Grimreepah]

Link (http://news.realfooty.com.au/brown-presents-afl-challenges-for-all/20075427-q4u.html)

Having "probably the biggest, strongest forward going around" in his AFL side comes with challenges for Brisbane Lions coach Leigh Matthews.
Jonathan Brown will come off his 10-goal demolition of Carlton last Sunday when the resurgent Lions play Collingwood on Saturday night at the MCG.
Brown has kicked 20 goals in the last three games, which Brisbane have won to put them just half a game outside the top eight.
Matthews and Collingwood counterpart Mick Malthouse naturally heaped praise on Brown on Friday, with Malthouse rating him just ahead of Sydney's Barry Hall as the AFL's top power forward.
"Brown is probably the biggest, strongest forward going around, with all due respects to Barry Hall, (who) plays a slightly different game," Malthouse said.
"I don't want to get into a naming of other forwards, but Brown is one that has the true capability of kicking 10.
"He presents another question, whether we're good enough to hold that forward line."
Sides were successfully double-teaming Brown earlier this season, with the Lions forced to work hard to generate other goalkicking options.
Matthews said one potential pitfall was team-mates zeroing in on Brown when they kick inside 50m, even though he might not be the best scoring option.
"It's a constant issue with your dominant players - your dominant forwards draw the ball," Matthews said.
"One of the reasons they're dominant forwards is not only their ability to get it when it towards them, they make their team-mates kick it to them with the force of their character and personality.
"(It) means sometimes you go to them when there's maybe a better option.
"The champion forwards do draw the ball to them, even when logically there's a better option on."


http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/6200/brown5lr1.jpg

[acuguy]

I liked this quote too.

"I was a bit out of rhythm. My action has always been pretty solid, but I didn't try and change anything - I just backed myself in and eventually it came good," Brown said.
"I usually kick my best when I am most relaxed. Everyone's an expert from the grandstand but ... I know what works for me."

Look, Browny is a great player because he backs himself, but you don't have to be a genius to see he isn't moving the ball around as much and he is moving in a more direct line towards the goal.

As for stealing my thunder on Brown trying to take more marks in his hands, you can't steal my thunder when i already stated it! You can build from my ideas, ha. Your point about Brown not having as much space is accurate, don't overlook the fact that Browny has based his whole game on the greatest chest marker of all, Wayne Carey.

[acuguy]

An "as for the article..." before you switch targets mid-post might be helpful in the future. :eek:

The joys of online discussion eh. ;)

Absolutely! Browny is a gun and that is all that really matters.

[notting18]

After reading the article in the age about how quickly Browny rejected the 6 million dollar deal from collingwood, seeing him last night was stunning!

He just ran and tried all night even late in the 4th term when we had the game well and truely won! Funniest moment was when he was taken off for a break and didn't sit down and just stood there waiting to come back on. It proved that this guy wanted/needs to be playing football for the lions!

[BigCat2]

After reading the article in the age about how quickly Browny rejected the 6 million dollar deal from collingwood, seeing him last night was stunning!

He just ran and tried all night even late in the 4th term when we had the game well and truely won! Funniest moment was when he was taken off for a break and didn't sit down and just stood there waiting to come back on. It proved that this guy wanted/needs to be playing football for the lions!

His commitment to us was never in doubt. Just put that down as 1 of the many thousand pieces of evidence that point to him loving our team. :D

[notting18]

His commitment to us was never in doubt. Just put that down as 1 of the many thousand pieces of evidence that point to him loving our team. :D

I know and thats what is so great about it! :thumbsu:

[Grimreepah]

This is the article notting was referring to:

Link (http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/brown-richer-for-lion-experience/2007/07/27/1185339261499.html)

Brown richer for Lion experience

Michael Gleeson | July 27, 2007

*Collingwood had the desire
*The Magpies had the cheque book
*But Jonathan Brown had no real need to become football's first
SIX-MILLION-DOLLAR MAN

GLEN Warry was not Jonathan Brown's agent and was not there to broker a deal. But still, when he sat down at John Laws' Otto restaurant, on Sydney's Woolloomooloo wharf, he liked what he heard.
"Six million dollars. Five years." It was a princely sum for the king of players. The men sitting opposite, Magpie chiefs Eddie McGuire and Greg Swann, had both the capacity and the inclination to make the offer a reality.
Warry was there at the Sydney restaurant meeting as a conduit for Brown liaising with the country's biggest club to gauge his strength in the market.
"They were ballpark figures, but when you talk ballpark and coming to Collingwood, the ballpark can be quite attractive, obviously," Warry recalled this week of the meeting more than two years ago that could have had Brown finish his career in black and white.
"What Eddie brings to the table is a lot more than just kicking a footy," he said.
"They are a very professional outfit and there was a package there which involved a number of things, which would have provided him with a lot of opportunities on and off the field.
"He had shown already at that point that he was a very good performer on the TV, he had been on The Footy Show a number of times and Eddie was very impressed.
"They felt he was the best player in the competition and the best player to build a team around and no doubt being in Melbourne was central to the greater opportunities that would be available to him if he moved than remained in Brisbane.
"That would have been the case if he moved to Collingwood or another Victorian club."
Brown was then and remains extremely close with Brisbane Lions' football manager Graeme "Gubby" Allan, loyal to his club and coach Leigh Matthews and as such had to be goaded even to agree to a meeting.
"We had spoken at length over a long period of time about the pros and cons of whether at any stage in his career he would want to come back to Melbourne and I said, 'If you are ever going to want to come back to Melbourne, this is the best opportunity you are going to get'," Warry said.
"That was the other reason to go to the market other than establishing his value."
Collingwood's interest in Brown was obvious. Not only was he the best player in the competition - one who, amazingly, is still to win either All-Australian selection or a club best-and-fairest award - but he had tormented the Magpies in two recent grand finals.
In the second of those consecutive battles, in 2003, Brown was knocked out by a Scott Burns bump in the opening minutes but refused to leave the ground. Impressively, he still kicked two goals.
Warry reported back to Brown just how interested Collingwood was: $6 million and five years' worth of interest. These were not extravagant figures for a player such as Brown. It would, after all, be a similar amount that Chris Judd would command should he choose to return to Victoria at season's end.
"I think he rang Gubby and told him because they are good mates and by 11o'clock that night, Jonathan rang me back and said, 'I am not going anywhere, I am staying here'. Leigh had said to Gubby, 'Sign him by the morning'," Warry said.
"The next morning, he got on radio after it had been in the paper (The Age) reporting he had met with Collingwood and he declared he was staying."
There is little doubt that Brown lost more money a year by staying in Brisbane than the average player would make playing 22 games in a season. Equally, meeting Collingwood helped massage Brisbane's eventual offer.
"At the end of the day, I knew in my heart that I wanted to stay with my mates and keep playing with the club that I supported as a kid," Brown said at the time.
No doubt, the relative anonymity afforded players in Brisbane compared with Melbourne was an attraction that offset the conflicting desire to experience life as a player in football's home.
"I certainly don't regret it. At the time, I was pretty settled with my partner and really keen to stay in Brisbane and that's all you can judge it on," Brown said this week.
"I was staying in Brisbane pretty much no matter what, provided you get compensated well enough and I was.
"I am businesslike enough to know you have to take each contract at a time and I suppose in the end it would be good to remain at the one club and Fitzroy was the club I barracked for as a kid."
The years that followed create an interesting hypothetical of what might have happened if Brown had shifted.
For Collingwood, it would have meant Travis Cloke might well be playing very well now at centre half-back but would it have derailed a youth development policy?
For Brown, the ensuing years have been dogged by injury, most specifically lower back problems that culminated in a hip stress fracture last year.
Would the softer surfaces to train and play on in Melbourne have helped preserve his body? It is difficult to answer when it is uncertain what caused the injury in the first instance; the only answer is it wouldn't have hurt.
"The last couple of years, I have been out on the ground at times, but the body hasn't really been holding up." Brown said of the injury that is most commonly found in women long-distance runners.
"The fracture of the hip, the doctors said, was very rare. They only see it about once a decade in football."
Part of the problem, paradoxically for such a powerful player, is that he lacks strength. Brown is rare in that there are few footballers who play the game at 104 kilograms and run 15 to 20 kilometres a match and play in such a high-impact style.
It is what makes him great; it is also what has made him vulnerable to injury of this type. As a six-million-dollar man - doctors had the technology, and they could rebuild him.
That involved lying on a bed with ultrasound learning how to "switch on my stomach muscles".
"It's meant a lot of Pilates," Brown said. "The strength around my core was non-existent, so it was like going back to kindergarten or primary school for the body. I am about nine months into that process and I still have a fair way to go."
Last year was a write-off and the pre-season also stalled. It was only in the mid-season break this year, when Brown was able to launch into an intensive training regime, that fitness and confidence in his body returned.
"It took me two to three months to feel like I was running normally again and not running with a limp and to feel I had power in my legs," he said. "You do wonder if the power is going to come back."
Last week, he kicked 10 goals against Carlton. The power was back.
"I was always confident I could get back and the specialists were confident I could, especially if I fixed up my core," Brown said. "It was just going to take time. The last month, I have felt normal again."

[Grimreepah]

Well it seems Brown is starting to get his elite fitness back. Yesterday he played more of his traditional CHF role to take Presti out of the forward 50 and isolate Brennan up forward. He ended up with 22 possessions.

By the way, anyone notice that he sings the song with more gusto when the team has a good game, than when he himself has a good game.

[TheBrownDog]

Well it seems Brown is starting to get his elite fitness back. Yesterday he played more of his traditional CHF role to take Presti out of the forward 50 and isolate Brennan up forward. He ended up with 22 possessions.

By the way, anyone notice that he sings the song with more gusto when the team has a good game, than when he himself has a good game.

He's got the heart of a real Lion.

He's the king of the pride, doesn't just exist for himself, but for the rest of his pack as well.

I don't mind the 5 captains idea, but if the decision was made to annoint just one... its Brown in a canter.

[Grimreepah]

It was great to see him at the start of the match, with the Carey-like strut, going to each of his forwards to give them a pat on the back. He just loves the big occaison and it's infectious. How could you not be inspired by the big fella?

http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/985/browndi6.jpg

[Grimreepah]

Link (http://afl.com.au/Season2007/News/NewsArticle/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsId=48491)

A Lion’s field of dreams

4:15 PM Thu 2 August, 2007
By Jonathon Monasso

FILL YOUR thermos. Don your woollen jumper. Don’t forget your streamers. We’re going to watch Brisbane Lion Jonathan Brown, a star of the modern game with an old-fashioned attitude playing a retro brand of football.
If there is any hint of pretence in the way Brown operates, it’s hard to find: “Yeah, you’ve called ‘Browny’. Leave a message and I’ll get back to ya.” The simple message on his mobile phone confirms that.
The ‘How to be Jonathan Brown’ instruction booklet is not a complex read. He is a super-powerful specimen with a large engine under the bonnet of his 195cm and 102kg frame, a lethal advantage for a player of his size.
Brown’s agility, adept work below his knees and polished ball skills make the 25-year-old Brisbane co-captain a nightmare for opposing coaches.
“He keeps presenting. He’s big and he’s strong but he’s also a very good runner. He’s got amazing aerobic running ability for such a big man,” Lions coach Leigh Matthews said of his star forward.
Brown has been in white-hot form in the past month and is one of the main reasons for Brisbane’s resurgence after a seven-game winless streak (six losses and a draw) from rounds seven to 13.
The Lions have won their past four matches – including impressive victories over West Coast in Perth and Collingwood in Melbourne – by an average of 70 points.
In that span, Brown has taken 48 marks and kicked 23 goals (including a club-record 10 in a spectacular display against Carlton in round 16), and, critically, has not been restricted by the hip injury that wrecked the second half of his 2006 season.
Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse, whose team felt the full brunt of Brown’s impact in the 2002-03 Grand Finals and again in a 93-point thrashing last weekend, knows how difficult he is to plan for.
“I’m not too sure who is capable of playing on Brown – you could have a legion of players,” he said.
While Matthews has lamented that recent injuries might have taken the edge off Brown, he knows the champion forward at his best is close to peerless.
Matthews cited Brown’s devastating display against Essendon at Telstra Dome in round six, 2005, as the perfect example of what he is capable of when fully fit.
In what was his first game of the season, Brown had 20 possessions, took 14 marks and kicked eight goals.
“That was outstanding. He’d missed the first part of the year, came back and just absolutely dominated the game,” Matthews said. “He’s played some of the
most dominating games of anyone I’ve coached.”
Three-time premiership centre half-forward, ex-coach and now analyst Robert Walls said, while Brown excelled at the modern game, his style warranted parallels to some of the greats of yesteryear.
“I rate him right up there with [former Carlton captain Stephen] Kernahan. He’s courageous, keeps his eye on the ball, works for front position, will run back into dangerous territory, he’s team-oriented and a leader,” Walls said.
Brown has a simple view of how he attacks the game.
“I base my game around getting to contests. People refer that back to the ’80s because maybe it doesn’t happen as much these days but that’s always really been my style.
“I just try and work as hard as I possibly can and just get on with the job,” Brown said.
Before injury ended his 2006 season after round 10, Brown had kicked 35 goals and accumulated 13 Brownlow Medal votes. Adam Goodes won it with 26 votes.
With Brown sidelined, the Lions won just three of their remaining 12 games and slumped to 13th, their lowest finish under Matthews.
The Lions appeared set for another year of rebuilding, having to manage the departure of several premiership heroes and the introduction of new blood.
There was a view the club would need to ‘bottom out’ and find its way again slowly. While they surprised many with good early-season form (reaching the final of the NAB Cup and winning four of their first six home and away matches) the bubble burst – inevitably it seemed – with the seven-game winless streak.
The Lions, however, have turned their season around, with Brown leading the charge.
Instead of pointing to 2008, many believe finals this year are certainly on the agenda. And who would dispute that, considering Brown’s dominance, teamed with a solid defence, a resurgent midfield and wildcards such as Jared Brennan and Rhan Hooper (10 goals between them last weekend).
With Brown a moving target, the Brisbane midfield can operate with the confidence to deliver the ball quickly and directly.
Matthews said he was acutely aware of the impact losing Brown would have.
“This year, one of our main priorities is to do what we can to get him through the year. We’ve had to take the ‘gently, gently’ approach with how hard he trains and how often he trains,” Matthews said.
While he admitted Brown’s managed workload could prevent him reaching his optimum level, Matthews insisted having him at less than 100 per cent was better than no Brown at all.
Officially, Brisbane has five on-field captains, but with his commanding presence, it is clear, on-field at least, this is Brown’s team.
“He’s got great ownership of the team. Leadership is partly the belief that you’ve got responsibilities and ownership of the team and Jonathan certainly exhibits all that attitude in his actions,” Matthews said.
That Brown has cemented himself among the game’s elite in a time most challenging for old-style centre half-forwards is testament to his ability.
Centre half-forward has long been considered football’s most difficult position to play consistently well, and Walls is adamant Brown and his peers face tougher challenges today than he did while holding down the key post for 13 years from 1967.
“You’ve got flooding over the past three or four years and it just means they don’t get a chance to beat their own opponent one-out like you did in my day. So I think it’s tougher for them today because they’ve got so many players back around them,” Walls said.
“I think Jonathan Brown would’ve been an even bigger star had he played in the ’70s and ’80s.”
You get the feeling Brown might have enjoyed playing in an earlier time, in an era dominated by those he based his own game on: Dermott Brereton, Paul Roos and Wayne Carey.
In 2005, Brown rejected a lucrative offer from Collingwood to return to Victoria. It would be misleading to suggest he ‘resisted’ offers, for that would imply he was tempted.
Brown remains, despite his vast success, an uncomplicated bloke from Warrnambool who loves the simple things.
While other players veer towards trendier pursuits (designing fashion or running new-age bars), Brown is happy to talk about his greyhounds, offering weekly tips in Melbourne’s Herald Sun newspaper.
He admitted the calm environment in Brisbane, away from the football spotlight, was
a significant factor in his decision to stay with the Lions. That, and perhaps a bit of old-fashioned loyalty.
Football is increasingly big business and many would suggest playing for the jumper is an outdated pursuit.
But beneath his burly, country boy persona, Brown seems to be a sucker for romance. His father, Brian, played 51 games with Fitzroy, allowing Brown to be selected by the Lions under the father-son rule in 1999.
Interestingly, he gave up a promising cricket career to play football. At 15, he played A-grade cricket for Wesley CBC in Warrnambool and was named Wesley ‘Cricketer of the Year’ two years in a row. He was also invited to play in the Victorian under-17 squad.
Brown takes great pride in playing for the club that now carries on the tradition of the one his dad represented, and for which he barracked for as a kid.
“That’s the thing players look back on and are most proud of. When it’s all said and done, you’d like to stick it out at the one club,” Brown said.
Playing alongside Michael Voss, Brisbane’s greatest player, confirmed to Brown what it meant to stay at one club, and he has also learned that from watching the likes of other one-club heroes such as Essendon’s James Hird and the Kangaroos’ Glenn Archer.
That trio will forever be remembered as club icons; Brown is certainly following their lead.
With Australian Football continuing to grow throughout Queensland, there could be no greater advertisement for the code than Brown in full flight. Young Queenslanders can some day join the rest of us in saying they watched Jonathan Brown, quite simply, one of the game’s greatest.

http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/8004/browncb7.jpg

[danielcanberra]

Round 18, 2007 against Kangaroos

Browny 6 goals and a career 250 goals. Congratulations Browny.

[Grimreepah]

He's had 37 scoring shots in the last 4 weeks:eek:

Just needs to improve his conversion.

http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/2184/brownlo0.jpg

[TheBrownDog]

Coleman bound.

[Grimreepah]

Link (http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,22194256%255E19746,00.html)

It's no secret why the Lions have climbed from 13th place at Round 13 into the eight at Round 18.
They have won five in a row in the period in which Brown has gone from ninth on the goalkicking table to first, and to the top of the "goal assists" list. The big fella is in stellar form, proving yet again why he is so often rated the most valuable player in the game . . . when fit.

[Grimreepah]

Link (http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/brown-in-purple-patch-coach/2007/08/05/1186252544846.html)

Brown in purple patch: coach

Lyall Johnson | August 6, 2007

BRISBANE Lions coach Leigh Matthews has issued an ominous warning to his side's last four opponents of the home-and-away season, saying skipper and key forward Jonathan Brown is in the best form of his career.
Brown has kicked 59 goals this season — 31 of them in the past six matches during which he has averaged 18 kicks and 11 marks. As a result, the Lions have won their past five games and are sitting in the eight on percentage.
Not even in the Lions' triple premiership years was Brown such a dominant force.
"I think Jonathan's last month has been as good as he's ever played, so he's in career-best form. I'd say that'd be fairly accurate over the last month," Matthews said yesterday.
Aside from the team lifting since it lost easily to Geelong two months ago and the midfield being led brilliantly by Nigel Lappin, Luke Power and Simon Black, Matthews believes Brown's improvement has evolved as he has worked his way into the season after overcoming a hip injury that kept him sidelined for most of last year. He had a groin injury late in 2005.
"Remember he's missed the last half of the last two seasons and therefore he's spent the last two summers recovering from those injury situations and that's what he did last summer," Matthews said.
"So I suspect it's also getting himself playing regularly and he's gradually got better and fitter. We're very happy to have him on our side."
Brown almost single-handedly destroyed the Kangaroos on Saturday night, kicking 6.6 from his 20 possessions.


http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/8978/brownex5.jpg

[Grimreepah]

Link (http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,22216919-5003410,00.html)

IF Kevin Murray had one wish it would be that Jonathan Brown played in his era.
Murray is Lions royalty. A nine-time best and fairest winner and the 1969 Brownlow Medallist, Murray achieved all the personal glory the game had to offer and was without peer on the football field.
But he is adamant, had Brown roamed the attacking fifty for the Lions in the 1950s and '60s Fitzroy would have been a VFL powerhouse.
"In those days centre half-forwards could get away with a lot more physicality. The current rules make it a lot harder for key forwards to use their physicality to dominate a contest," Murray said.
"Brown would have been perfect in my era and I know for a fact we would all have walked 10 feet taller."


http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/8721/brownrz2.jpg
ELITE company ... Jonathan Brown with Kevin Murray after the 2003 premiership.

[TheBrownDog]

Brown was brilliant on the Footy Show last night.

Best performance by a panelist on the show in recent memory.

Dominated the show like he dominates a forward line.

[konstas_87]

Brown was brilliant on the Footy Show last night.

Best performance by a panelist on the show in recent memory.

Dominated the show like he dominates a forward line.

was the best performance ive seen from him on that show.
i always think that the panellists dont get enough attention but Browny made it so that he was a fair part of the show which made it ALOT better.

cough **captain material** cough

in all seriousness i havent minded the 5-man system but surely if not in 2008, 2009 they will appoint the big fella as the next champion captain of the Lions.

[Grimreepah]

Link (http://footygoss.com/main/club_news/brisbane/view/brownlow_watch_round_18_barnstorming_brown/)

Brownlow Watch – Round 18 – Barnstorming Brown

Posted Aug 8, 2007 - 6:06 AM

http://footygoss.com/themes/site_themes/footy/images/team_specific/brisbane_ball_nobg.jpg
Brisbane power forward Jonathan Brown will surely poll well at this year’s Brownlow Medal count after a wonderful year to date.
The 25-year-old has played in every game so far this year and if he completes 2007 without a miss, it will be the first time since 2001 since he has achieved that feat.
Brown has kicked at least one goal in each match he has played this year, but his last six matches have been extraordinary.
Brown has booted 33 goals and had an average of 18 disposals and 12 marks per game in the last six weeks which would no doubt have included several Brownlow votes.
His current Brownlow odds are $17.00 according to ozbet.com.au.
Here are the top ten Brownlow fancies after Round 18.
Gary Ablett (Geel) - $2.00
Chad Cornes (PA) - $5.50
Brent Harvey (Kang) - $6.00
Sam Mitchell (Haw) - $9.00
Jimmy Bartel (Geel) - $12.00
Jonathan Brown (BL) - $17.00
Simon Black (BL) - $18.00
Matthew Pavlich (Frem) - $23.00
Chris Judd (WCE) - $31.00
Tarkyn Lockyer (Coll) - $35.00


I think he'll probably get 3 votes for both the Carlton games, and 3 votes for the Kangaroos game, but apart from that it will only be dribs and drabs. I'm guessing he'd be on 12 or 13 votes at the moment.

http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/3773/brown4xe4.jpg

[Grimreepah]

Link (http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,22223961%255E19746,00.html)

Brown: Heart to heart with Matthews

11 August 2007 AFL
Jim Wilson

JONATHAN Brown has described it as a "bloody frank discussion" between senior coach Leigh Matthews and the Brisbane Lions' leadership group.
The heart-to-heart in June has been identified as the catalyst for Brisbane's stunning form revival in the past six weeks.
As the Lions prepare for today's blockbuster against Hawthorn at the MCG when they'll be out to make it six wins in a row, Brown has spoken about the mid-season meeting that turned the club around.
"There was nothing sinister about it but Leigh and the leadership group felt the time had arrived for a frank assessment of where things were at," Brown said.
"Leigh drove it and he just said, `We're having a change of direction' and asked for us to embrace it and for our support.
"We needed numbers in the forward line and all the sides we rated moved the ball quickly and we had to follow suit."
The chat during the mid-season break was also a chance for the leadership group to deliver a message to the coaching staff.
"We asked for more pressure from the coaches, especially on the training track and wanted them to be harder on us as we thought they could have been tougher," Brown said.
"It just wasn't there and blokes were missing targets at training and getting away with it. It just wasn't good enough and our standard of training was poor and we wanted the coaches to crack the whip."
Since that day, the turnaround at Brisbane has been phenomenal and, with Geelong, the Lions are the form side of the competition.
Brown has been a key ingredient in the revival and Brisbane's surge towards the finals.
The star forward has played all 18 games this season, leads the race for the Coleman Medal with 59 goals and is in line for All-Australian honours which, surprisingly, given his stature in the game since 2001, would be another first for the 25-year-old.
But Brown says the Lions' form is about the entire group and the belief within the players.
A win against the Hawks will enhance the Lions' quest for a spot in the finals.
But Brown says finals are simply not on the agenda and believes that mindset has been invaluable in the side's recent success.
"This group of blokes are having a crack and we are just not using the September word, as the formula is working the way it's going," Brown said.
"We'll have another crack against the Hawks and we won't die wondering, that's for sure. The win against West Coast was the beginning of the streak and I thought, `We are capable of beating the best sides anywhere'."
Brisbane's win in Round 14 against the Eagles at Subiaco was one of the biggest boilovers of the past few years and followed a seven-goal last quarter in Round 13 against Port Adelaide.
Brown said it was one of the best wins he'd been involved in and said beating the Eagles in Perth was an enormous lift for the Lions' younger players.
"We needed belief that night and for the young guys it was unbelievable and I thought that put us ahead six months in our development," Brown said.
"To beat them over there I thought, `Hey, we've got a pretty good side here' and it was all about believing in ourselves."
Loyalty and unity are the two traits Brown thrives on and looks for in his teammates and his support network.
He said the club needed to be unified following the retirement of premiership hero and captain Michael Voss and controversial departures of Jason Akermanis and Mal Michael.
"It has been a sort of motto from the leadership group down and it was crucial to jell quickly if we were going to get anywhere," Brown said.
"It's been a transition big-time and when you lose basically three-quarters of your premiership side, it was always going to be challenging. The Aka stuff was a disaster and not ideal for the group or the senior coach and it was disappointing losing Mal (Michaels) in the way he departed. But we've stuck together and we've stuck fat."
Brown's form has been extraordinary and his fitness is the best it's been for years.
In the past two seasons he's battled chronic osteitis pubis and last year suffered stress fractures of his lower back.
But his approach this year has been a massive revelation of how to nurse his fragile body.
"I never contemplated retirement although if I had have got injured again this year, then that may have been a different story," Brown said.
"It was just so bloody frustrating and I have worked on weaknesses in my core or abdominals and I came back to square one. I've gone from one of the worst to one of the best as far as stability results go."
And the triple premiership star has had to fight the urge and temptation of changing the routine.
"I would like to do a lot of things, but I'm six foot four (193cm) and weigh 105kg and that means I have to be careful in the way I train and go about my business," Brown said.
"I train once a week on a Wednesday for about 45 minutes and I don't train at all a day before a game and I actually feel better now than I did in the first half of the year. I can't wait to do a pre-season at the end of this year."
Brown's job up forward for the Lions has been helped by the options Matthews has now given the side.
Jared Brennan, Rhan Hooper, and Robert Copeland have all taken the heat off Brown, giving him the space to dominate games.
"Leigh is a genius and it's like junior footy with the backs being moved forward and the forwards now down back," Brown said.
"It was a masterstroke by the senior coach and they've all responded, making my life a lot bloody easier. (Wayde) Mills, Hooper, Copeland, and Brennan have been terrific and the balance is right.'
Brown said Hooper's performances have been particularly pleasing considering his battles off the field.
The Lions' co-captain said Hooper's situation reminded him a lot of former Brisbane Lions star Darryl White.
"The kid had personal issues and he didn't have a driver's licence and he lived nearly an hour away from the club," Brown said.
"It was tough getting him here over the summer and `Whitey' was much the same and you struggled to get him out of Alice Springs over the summer. But Rhan now has his licence and he's right into it which is so heartening."
Despite Brown's spectacular form, he's yet to sit down and discuss a possible contract extension with the Lions.
His deal ends after the 2008 season but Brisbane will be keen to extend it.
"I want to be a Lion for life but, having said that, we have to go through a process that works for the club and me," Brown said.
"Right now I want to play and we haven't chatted about anything beyond next year and I think fair enough on the club's behalf to see if my body held together this season. Loyalty is huge and that was part of our premiership success and I reckon this place is in for a really exciting three to five years."
While he's settled in Queensland, Brown regards himself as a diehard Victorian having been raised in Warrnambool.
And one of his burning ambitions of playing for his state should become reality when he lines up for Victoria next year.
"I'm a proud Victorian and make no mistake, as a kid growing up the biggest thing you could do in our game, apart from winning a premiership, was to pull on the Big V jumper," Brown said.
"I want State-of-Origin footy mid-season.
"Imagine playing at the MCG in front of 100,000 fans knocking a few of the Croweaters' heads off. It would be sensational and strange at the same time having Collingwood fans leaning over the fence cheering for me rather than hanging it on me. `Joffa' might be my mate for a day."


http://img466.imageshack.us/img466/7628/brownes7.jpg
Lions turnaround: Gun Brisbane forward Jonathan Brown has been one of the major catalysts behind the club's resurgence up the ladder.

[TheBrownDog]

There are no words to describe how good Jonathan Brown is.

[Grimreepah]

Interesting thing they said on the radio. Brown has kicked 90 goals in his last 22 matches.

Interesting stat.

[TheBrownDog]

Interesting stat.

If not for an early disfunctional forward line and some errant kicking, he'd be over 100.

[Grimreepah]

Link (http://lions.com.au/Season2007/News/NewsArticle/tabid/5085/Default.aspx?newsId=48988)

Brown back to his best

12:21 PM Sun 12 August, 2007
By Matt Burgan
for lions.com.au

AFTER a tough first half of 2007 in which he struggled for form and frequently found himself alone against two or three defenders, Jonathan Brown stepped up his training program – and is now reaping the rewards.
The Brisbane Lions powerhouse heads the AFL's goalkicking table with 65 goals; six of which he added in Saturday’s four-goal loss to Hawthorn at the MCG.
He’s hoping to carry his form not only into a Lions finals campaign, but right through a pre-season and into 2008.
"Since the split round I've been able to do more training,” Brown tells lions.com.au. “I'm still on a very modified training program for another three games – or hopefully finals – but hopefully I can get through this season and have a pre-season, which I haven't had for about four years and be 'cherry ripe' for the whole of next season.”
"I'm only allowed to train once a week with the boys, on a Wednesday night, so I've tried to lift the tempo there and train pretty hard for that hour. Over the split round I got three or four hard training sessions in and I feel like my fitness has improved because of that.
After averaging just over two goals a game over the first 12 rounds of the season, Brown has 39 goals from his past seven matches and is in close to career-best form.
"[I've] been playing a lot better footy as well, so that's conducive to kicking more goals,” he says.
“The forward structure is working quite well, the guys are really contributing there, and the midfield has been awesome over the last six weeks."
“I've felt like I've been able to get back to my best. I've had more fitness to move around and I've been able to create more opportunities for myself. The first half of the year I was very one dimensional and I just didn't have the fitness or movement, so it's pleasing to be able to have movement in my body and pelvis, especially."
Brown has played every match this season – a feat he has not achieved since 2001, thanks to a series of debilitating injuries. He managed just 10 appearances last season.
"The hip, pelvis and sacrum took a lot longer [to heal] than expected,” he says. “It ended up taking 22 or 24 weeks for the fracture to heal. It was unbelievable and super-frustrating because it just seemed it didn't want to heal."
"I lost power down my right side. You do start to have doubts about generating the same power. Carrying that weight around is pretty crucial.
"I knew I'd have to go through the boring stuff like pilates and stretching. It was like going back to kindergarten and starting all over again. [But] if I didn't do it, you could put the black line through me by the split round every year."



http://img456.imageshack.us/img456/6229/brownqn9.jpg

[Grimreepah]

Link (http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,22233461%255E19746,00.html)

Brown: Brawl bit of fun
13 August 2007 Herald Sun
Andrew Hamilton

JONATHAN Brown has scoffed at comparisons with Dermott Brereton's infamous charge through the Bombers' huddle, describing the halftime scuffle in Saturday's clash with Hawthorn as a bit of fun between some old mates.The incident happened within metres of Auskick kids about to start their halftime game.
Brown seemed to start the incident by bursting through the Hawks huddle on his way to join his teammates, but he described the incident as mates trying to just "loosen" each other up.
The skipper has been a model citizen since 2004 when he escaped penalty but attracted plenty of attention for an after-the-siren incident.
"After that bad year in 2004 my discipline has been really good," Brown said.
The league's leading goalkicker is confident that close inspection of footage from Saturday would reveal there was no real heat in the incident and that players were laughing at each other. "There was nothing in it, it was a bit of fun," Brown said.
"We were just starting to loosen each other up. They came in as a pack pretty excited and both sides were going to stand their ground.
"If you have a closer look you'll see a few of us laughing."
Such is Brown's resolve to maintain his discipline, he barely reacted to a controversial push-in-the-back call against him early in the third quarter that resulted in a goal being overturned. When once the call would have made Brown furious, this time he showed little reaction to the ruling.
"It didn't feel like it inside," he said. "It was a crucial time in the game and the goal would have put us back in it.
"I felt I was hard done by, but we pride ourselves on our discipline and I've taught myself not to worry about what umpires do.
"They're not going to overturn a decision and you can't have the captain giving away 50m for abusing an umpire."


http://img261.imageshack.us/img261/2852/brownvz0.jpg
It's good to catch up: Lions co-captain Jonathan Brown in the thick of the half-time melee with the Hawks.

[konstas_87]

reading that last article i dont understand how some of these blokes have the discipline to walk away from an umpire after such a rubbish decision.

Browny must have some incredible self control..

[Grimreepah]

Link (http://afl.com.au/Season2007/News/NewsArticle/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsId=49028)

Buddy and Brown: the entertainers
12:05 PM Mon 13 August, 2007

A RECORD crowd for a Hawthorn and Brisbane Lions encounter attended the MCG on Saturday.
One obvious reason for the 39,007 attendance was that the Hawks have been a standout team this season and the Lions – until this round – were the second most in-form team in the competition.
However, of equal importance to this figure was that two of the most exciting players in the game were on show. People who didn't follow either side were simply intrigued by this contest and attended in awe.
And although Lance Franklin's Hawthorn was the winner and Jonathan Brown's Lions ended their five-match winning streak, no football follower could be disappointed with the "Buddy and Browny" show.
Franklin's five goals were instrumental in Hawthorn's victory. While Brown's efforts were Herculean – he booted six goals, taking his tally to 39 goals in his past seven outings – he did not have the additional support needed in attack on the day.
Asked if the crowd was bumped up because of he and Franklin, triple-premiership player Brown was humble in his response, before adding, "but everyone loves a goalkicker".
"The main thing was that the sides were in form and both play pretty exciting brands of footy, but no doubt it helps with forwards kicking goals," Brown told afl.com.au.
The second term was when the duo came to the fore.
Seven goals were booted for the quarter with Brown (four) and Franklin (three) bagging all of them. It was an exce