On the eve of his 200th game, wholehearted captain Jonathan Brown chats to BEN CASANELIA and reflects on the highs and lows of life with the Lions.

BC: Must be mixed emotions after kicking the winner against West Coast but knowing all it did was avert a possible wooden spoon.
JB: After such a long spell between drinks it was good to get four points, but the boys didn’t get carried away with it because we realise exactly where we’re at. Clearly we’re not worrying about this season, it’s all about building for the future.

BC: Your own immediate future has you playing game 200 on Sunday against Adelaide. Is it something you’ve thought about?
JB: Yeah, for sure. I thought I might have got there a bit earlier (Brown missed six games through injury) but it wasn’t to be. It’s a major milestone so I’m pretty stoked to get there, particularly at one club.

BC: Are you big on milestones?
JB: I think the 100s and the 200s – and the 300 if you can make it – those ones are significant. I’ve got fond memories of my 100th game when we beat Carlton and I played well (four goals) and last week you look at Dan Merrett playing his 100th game and he’ll remember it for the rest of his life.

BC: Not too many players who played in that 100th game will be alongside you for your 200th.
JB: Wouldn’t be many at all. Probably Blacky (Simon Black) and Luke Power and maybe Ashley McGrath. That’s the way footy goes these days, isn’t it?

BC: You made your debut also against Adelaide in Round 5, 2000. You’d be hoping for a better night this time!
JB: I remember it well because I didn’t get a touch (0 disposals) so it wouldn’t be hard to beat that effort. It’s funny how it all comes around. Been a lot of water passed under the bridge since then and a lot of bloody good memories.

BC: You played in three premierships and four Grand Finals before your turned 23.
JB: I was 21 when I played in the third flag and it was a bloody good way to start your career. It’s been a big challenge in the last four or five years but last year was exciting and then this year we’ve had a pretty bad run. But, in saying that I’m pretty excited about where the group is and hopefully in the back end of my career I can finish strong in a good side.

BC: You’ve certainly experienced both sides of the fence in your career.
JB: I have and this year’s been tough. The one thing I’ve haven’t done is experience a side that has really bottomed out. I suppose you could argue that’s happened to an extent this year and it’s certainly been the most challenging year from a team perspective. But it will only help us move forward. For me individually, my most challenging years were 2005 and 2006 with injuries.

BC: What’s been the hardest challenge for you this year as captain?
JB: I think the fact the body has been struggling with crook ground so my ability to really get out there and play to my full capacity has been really frustrating because when the side struggles you really want to help out as much as you possibly can. I’ve either been in there and not firing or not there at all and for me my main function as a captain is to perform on the field.

BC: The side started so well with four wins. Was there a point where you could see the writing on the wall?
JB: I always try to be optimistic about everything but by the time we got the mid-season break and Richmond beat us at the Gabba, I thought we were in a fair bit of strife then. We’ve had no continuity all year, we’ve had a huge amount of injures to our senior experienced core. It’s been a constant every week in terms of forced changes and gradually the team has lost confidence.

BC: Have you found it hard to stay motivated?
JB: Not really. I’ve focused on trying to get my body right but even last weekend going in I knew we couldn’t make finals but you’ve got your own individual pride and every time I go out there I want to perform the best I can and to do that you’ve got to prepare the best you can. It’s pretty basic but no doubt you spring out of bed a little better when you’re on top of the ladder. The motivating factor of us is that if we put the white flag up over the last few weeks of the season and hope it all fixes itself next year, that’s the worst mentality you could have. We’ve got to play out this season as if we’re building a platform for next year. There’s no doubt this year has given the playing group a kick up the bum and maybe realigned where we think we’re at. When you do get a kick up the bum it certainly gives you plenty of motivation over pre-season.

BC: Has this year changed your relationship with the coach?
JB: I don’t think it’s changed at all, to be honest. We’ve always had a good, open relationship and been great mates but at the same time he’s challenged me both when he was captain and as a coach. He’s done a terrific job this year, Vossy, and I think it’s been underrated the job he’s done in terms of the playing group and keeping thing moving.

BC: How has he challenged you?
JB: As a player you always want to be challenged to make sure you get the job done out of the field and whether it be leading the side and directing, or performance, he’s challenged me to do that. He’s a terrific coach and unfortunately he’s got some negative press with how things have gone, but I think down the track we’ll be looking at this year as maybe a significant step for the footy club in all areas, particularly dealing with adversity.

BC: Any regrets in your career to date?
JB: Probably the 2004 Grand Final. It’s one I look back on every now and then. We were a good side and we went into the finals in good shape and won our first final comprehensively against St Kilda. Then the injustice of playing a home final at the MCG was just … it’s one that’s hard to swallow even though we won the game. To come back seven days later was too tough. The injuries and suspension in 2004, 2005 and 2006 when I was playing some of my best football wasn’t ideal and it’s one I look back on and wish I had strung together some full seasons together back then.

BC: Best player you’ve played with?
JB: I’ve been blessed because I’ve played with some great ones. Vossy obviously stands out. Blacky is the most decorated player I’ve played with then we had some great defenders in Leppa (Justin Leppitsch) and Chris Johnson. Vossy was the full package in terms of being a great leader and impacting games when they needed to be impacted on.

BC: Toughest opponents?
JB: Probably the biggest name I got to play on was Glen Jakovich back in the early days of my career and that was a great experience. The guy I played on the most is Simon Prestigiacomo and we have some great battles.

BC: Biggest influence?
JB: The old man Brian. He taught me the skills of the game. Then obviously Leigh Matthews gave me an opportunity and backed me in to play centre half forward as a young bloke in a good side. That’d be the biggest two.

BC: How do you feel when your name gets mentioned alongside the great centre half forwards in Dermott Brereton and Wayne Carey as being greats of the game?
JB: Definitely a compliment when people say that but because I’m still playing I don’t take much notice. Maybe I will when I finish but I still feel like I’ve got a lot I want to achieve in my footy career. Those two guys were two of my idols growing up and out of they are two of the players I took things from the most in terms of learning how to play centre half forward.

BC: You’ll be a Lion for life after signing a deal a couple of years ago. Those sorts of decisions get reinforced with milestones like 200 games.
JB: I was keen to do it and I’m happy with it. It hit home last year when I got life membership and it hit home this week thinking about playing 200 games. It means a lot to have played for one club and for me now it’s all about getting back to having some success.

– BEN CASANELIA