The following events will soon be consigned to Club history as the Lions gear up for another assault on the AFL Premiership in 2012.
The Lions will count down the 10 significant moments from 2011 throughout December, with the final instalment featuring on Friday 23 December - prior to the Club’s official closure for the New Year period.
MOMENT #3: A BAD BREAK
CLICK HERE to watch Jonathan Brown’s courageous highlights from the 2011 season
It will remain one of the most gruesome and disturbing images ever witnessed at the Gabba…
Lions Captain Jonathan Brown had booted three goals in the first half against the fancied Fremantle Dockers, and looked likely to help steer his team towards a season-opening victory.
But when Dockers defender Luke McPharlin’s knee collected Brown’s face after yet another contested mark for the skipper inside 50, the Gabba crowd gasped in unison.
The collision forced the burly centre-half forward to lay motionless on the ground for a moment before clumsily attempting to rise and assess the damage.
But as soon as his white and bloodied face appeared, every fan expected the worst - and they were right.
Brown was taken to hospital immediately after being helped from the field where scans revealed that he had suffered multiple facial fractures that would require surgery and at least eight weeks on the sidelines. The injuries were likened to those suffered from a motorbike accident - not from contact on the football field.
The news proved a knockout blow for the Club and its supporters who had also just experienced the heartbreak of losing their Round 1 match by less than a kick.
Only one match into the season, and the Lions were seemingly on their knees.
But as expected, Brown counted down the days until he could get back onto the field. The minimum eight-week period was used as motivation for the three-time Club Champion, and sure enough, eight weeks later he made his highly anticipated return against North Melbourne.
While some questioned how he could ever recover from such horrific injuries, Brown showed from the first contest of the match that he had no mental scars from the Round 1 incident.
The powerful forward went on to kick four goals and play a key role in lifting his team to their first victory of 2011 against North Melbourne in horrid conditions at the Gabba.
But two months later, the unthinkable happened.
Brown’s reconstructed face, which was seemingly now indestructible, suffered another cruel blow after he courageously threw himself head first into a marking contest against Geelong in Round 17.
Another sickening blow was followed by a lengthy concussion, another trip to hospital, and more surgery.
Lightning had struck twice, and Brown’s 2011 campaign had officially ended prematurely.
At season’s end, it came as no surprise when Brown was again voted as the AFLPA’s Most Courageous Player. And despite public fears that his game style was too ‘reckless’, the Lions skipper said he wouldn’t be changing his ways.
“I’ll be back next year with eight months recovery which will make things heal a hell of a lot better,” Brown said.
“It’s probably going to be the first time I haven’t had an operation in the off-season - I don’t count anything above the neck. So I should be able to do a good pre-season and get back to playing my best footy.”
“Because I haven’t played much footy in the past 18 months, Vossy has already told me that it might be a good idea for me to play a few practice games next year.”
Surely the big fella is due for a bit more luck in 2012…
HAVE YOUR SAY
Join the discussion surrounding the Club’s memorable moments from 2011.
CLICK HERE to visit our Facebook page
CLICK HERE to follow us on Twitter
RELATED LINKS
Brown back together again
Brown not changing
Injury Update: Jonathan Brown
Brown ‘genuinely tough’
Brown unbelievably courageous: Voss
Brown hurt in Cats loss
Brown ready to 'rip in'
Injury Update: Brown and Staker
PREVIOUS MOMENTS
#10: CELEBRATING GREATNESS
#9: BLOODING YOUNG CUBS
#8: HISTORY ON SHOW
#7: QCLASH REVENGE
#6: CHARMAN BOWS OUT
#5: YOUNG LIONS COMMIT
#4: ROCKLIFF CROWNED
