"Put a helmet on Browny, I can't stand to see your bravery paid back via head injuries," one fan implored.
While it's not an overly common practice in the AFL to wear a helmet, there have been a handful of notable players throughout Lions history to have done so successfully.
Norm Smith Medallist Shaun Hart famously wore a helmet throughout his career, as did Bears full-forward John Hutton and Fitzroy centre half-back Chris Smith.
Even fellow Fitzroy Team of the Century members Garry Wilson and Richard Osborne were known to have worn a helmet at different times.
Speaking from experience at the launch of the Brisbane Lions' Hall of Fame last week in Melbourne, Wilson said that helmets were probably more suited to players susceptible to concussions, rather than facial fractures.
"I think it's an individual thing. But if you had a preference, you wouldn't wear one," Wilson said.
"I wore one at the suggestion of our doctor at the time, Dr John Fraser, after having probably five or six really severe concussions, and another 15-20 cases of blurred vision."
"I had certainly developed a weakness to what I thought were reasonably light knocks."
"I played for 14 years and wore a helmet for the last four. So I still played 10 years without a helmet."
"I've also had a depressed fractured cheekbone which required an operation and cost me five weeks. And I cracked my jaw a couple of times as well," he said.
"But concussions are different. If you have a number of severe concussions, it can have long term effects. I went to a neurologist at one time, and had to take their professional advice."
Any suggestions that Brown should consider wearing a helmet were quickly put to bed by his wife Kylie, who Tweeted her husband's intentions not long after his latest surgery.
"He said save your comments about helmets or retiring cause it aint happening,"she said.
With the exception of the match against Geelong last year, Brown has been fortunate not to have suffered many severe concussions throughout his career, particularly considering the number of contests he has been involved in.
