Brisbane Lions legend Jonathan Brown revealed he had brain surgery on Wednesday to remove a tumour. After undergoing a routine scan, he became aware of a shadow on his brain that turned out to be a low-grade brain tumour. He shared the news with supporters alongside his wife, Kylie, on Friday night.
Brown played 15 seasons for the Brisbane Lions where he served as captain between 2007 and 2013, and won three AFL premierships between 2001 and 2003. He is also a three-time club Best and Fairest winner, two-time All Australian, and a one-time Coleman Medallist. Since his retirement in 2014, Brown has been a member of Fox Footy's Monday night program On The Couch and a key feature of the station's AFL coverage.
Now 44, Brown retired in 2014, a decision influenced by multiple concussions during his playing career. This recent health challenge adds another chapter to a career marked by physical sacrifice for the game he loved.
The surgery resulted in a positive outcome, and Brown stated he understands the procedure creates public interest but needs time to rest and recover before sharing more details about his experience. Colleagues including James Brayshaw and Garry Lyon sent their best wishes, with Lyon noting that Brown was in good spirits post-surgery, joking with his wife and remaining engaged despite the challenging circumstances.
The Lions community and wider AFL family have rallied behind the former captain. Brown gave everything he had to his team and his club through a career of 256 games from 2000-2014. His supporters now await his full recovery, respecting his request for privacy during this difficult period.