Brisbane Lions champion, Jonathan Brown, today closed the door on an outstanding 15-year career, announcing his retirement from AFL football.

Brown will retire effective immediately, after suffering a heavy concussion during the Lions Round 13 clash with the Giants.

The injury was the latest in a long list of head collisions that Brown has suffered during his career, including two serious incidents in 2011, which required the insertion of metal plates into his head.

Brown retires as one of the best the game has ever seen, and arguably the most courageous player of all time.

He calls time on his career after 256 games for the Brisbane Lions, 594 goals and with three premiership medallions.

Highly regarded by the entire football public, Brown’s accolades include, two-time All Australian selection, Coleman Medallist (2007) and three-time recipient of the AFLPA Most Courageous Player Award.

Captain of the Club between 2007-2013 (Co-Captain 2007-2008, 2013) Brown will be remembered for his fearless approach and unrivalled aggression, which has earned him the respect and admiration of the entire football community.

Former Senior Coach Leigh Matthews, lists the inspirational centre half-forward as the most courageous player he has ever seen, an opinion that is shared by many throughout the football community.

There have been countless display of trademark Brown courage throughout his journey, from his Mark of the Year in 2002 to his recovery from three consecutive facial fractures.

Brown said the decision was not an easy one to make, but it was the right decision for himself and his young family.

“The desire to play footy was still there, but at the end of the day I think it is the right time to hang up the boots,” said Brown.

“You could always play that one more game, but it only takes one instance to cause some serious damage.

“You have to consider the future and I’ve spent some time with Kylie and the kids over the past few days and that underlined for me some of the most important things in life.

“What Leppa said about ‘not owing the Club anything’ really hit home with me and definitely helped make the decision easier.

“I caught up with him last night and we talked through the decision and my future and I knew it was time and that the right decision was to retire.”

Brown will remain an important figure around the Club in 2014, playing a mentor role for the Lions’ young playing group.

Brown’s 256 senior matches ranks him 13th on the Club’s all-time games record list (including Fitzroy and the Bears), while he recently surpassed Terry Wallace (254 games) as the all-time VFL/AFL games record-holder in the number 16 guernsey.

He finishes his career as Brisbane’s greatest ever goal-kicker, having kicked a total of 594 goals. In terms of the all-time Club list, he ranks third behind Alastair Lynch (633 goals with Fitzroy/Bears/Lions) and Jack Moriarty (626 goals).

In 2007 he became only the fourth player in Club history to have won a Coleman Medal as the competition’s leading goal-kicker, joining Jimmy Freake (1915), Jack Moriarty (1924), and Bernie Quinlan (1983-84).

JONATHAN BROWN – AT A GLANCE

DOB: 29 October 1981
AFL Games: 256
AFL Goals: 594
Recruited From: Geelong Falcons / South Warrnambool

AFL Awards
AFL Mark of the Year 2002
All Australian 2007, 2009
Coleman Medal 2007
AFLPA Best Captain 2007, 2009
AFLPA Most Courageous Player 2007, 2008, 2011
AFLPA MVP Runner-up 2007
All Australian Preliminary Squad 2008

Club Awards
Lions Premiership Player 2001, 2002, 2003
Lions Most Improved Player 2001
Lions Most Professional Player 2005, 2009
Lions Best Clubman 2005
Lions Team of the Decade Member 2006
Lions Best Forward 2007, 2008
Lions Club Champion 2007, 2008, 2009
Lions Most Courageous Player 2007, 2010
Lions Leading Goal-Kicker 2007, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013
Lions Co-Captain 2007-2008, 2013
Lions Members Player of the Year 2009, 2010
Lions Captain 2009-2012
Lions Life Member 2009
3rd Lions Club Champion 2010      
Lions Pre-Season Premiership Player 2013