Brown sure he'll play his 200th AFL game
Brisbane kingpin Jonathan Brown is confident he's shrugged off his knee injury to finally celebrate his 200th AFL match against Essendon on Sunday.
After missing out on notching the milestone at the Gabba last weekend, Brown completed a closed training session on Thursday to be named for the Etihad Stadium clash.
The Lions skipper's expectation his knee will be right has been shown by the club organising a special media conference at the Gabba on Friday morning.
In a good omen for the Lions, Brown has often produced his best against Essendon. The highlight was in 2005 against the Bombers at the same ground when he bagged a then club record haul of eight goals in his return from suspension.
The 28-year-old, who has battled a groin injury all year but still managed to play 15 games, injured his knee late in the round 19 win over West Coast.
With just two matches left in a disappointing year for Brisbane, Lions assistant coach Adrian Fletcher denied there was any thought of saving Brown for next season.
"We want to win games," Fletcher said.
"We want to get our confidence going into the next pre-season.
"We're starting to turn things around and we're starting to get the work-rate where we want it, and players are playing their roles and there are positives there, but we probably haven't had the run of wins to back it up.
"We have to pick our best team for Round 21. If Browny's in it, then that's a bonus. If he's not, well then we'll give him until Round 22."
Fletcher also stressed the Lions had no temptation to hold him back to play his 200th at home against the Swans on Saturday week.
"He's got a bus full of people from his home town of Warrnambool gearing up to come down (to Etihad) if he plays," Fletcher said.
"It will cost them less money to drive two hours to Melbourne than to fly to Brisbane."
The Lions have lost key defender Matt Maguire (ankle) and the elusive Albert Proud (illness) for the clash.
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