The spotlight will remain firmly on the recovery of AAPT Brisbane Lions key forward Jonathan Brown this week...
Barnstorming AAPT Brisbane Lions centre-half-forward Jonathan Brown will be the centre of attention again this week after his output dropped notably after quarter time in the 23-point loss to West Coast tonight.Brown did not train on Wednesday or Friday due to groin soreness - or an inflamed adductor – and spent the bulk of the last quarter on the bench tonight after a sparkling opening.The powerfully built Brown appeared to lose his strength over the ball from midway through the second term after a dominant opening to the match in which he dwarfed the Eagles defence.He collected three marks and seven possessions opposed to Brent Staker and Brett Jones in the opening term, then had a short stint in the centre for two possessions in the early minutes of the second term.But Brown’s pinpoint kicking deserted him with one pass dropping short and three shots for goal from 48m failing to find the major opening.“In the end he was getting sore – that’s why we took him off,” coach Leigh Matthews said of Brown, who finished with three marks and 13 possessions. “We thought we’d take a long term view - the game looked to be gone and we had to think ahead.”Essendon will be hoping that Brown’s groin soreness continues to hamper him next week, the brilliant Lion having destroyed them in Round 6 on his return to senior football after a lengthy suspension.The Lions had won seven of nine matches they played with Brown back in the side before tonight.“It’s an interesting situation with Jonathan, just how he comes off the game,” Matthews said. “He was probably alright at the beginning of the game, but he got sore very quickly.”Asked if the rest of the season was going to a ‘management thing’ for Brown, Matthews replied: “It appears so.”
The Western Bulldogs have recalled defender Matthew Boyd, leaving Brad Murphy, Sam Power and Wayde Skipper as the three emergencies for Sunday's match against A