In the aftermath of NRL star Sonny Bill Williams’ shock walkout on the Canterbury Bulldogs, Brown – who is due to come out of contract at season’s end – said players had to be reasonable when it came to salary expectations.
"We wouldn’t have as even a competition as we do without the salary cap and it’s a really important part of our game from that aspect," Brown told afl.com.au.
"There is no restraint of trade for us. We don’t have another league to go play in elsewhere for more money and I think the guys who play in the AFL realise there is only so much money you can take out of a sport.
"Players have a responsibility to the sport and you can’t have a situation where clubs are paying blokes millions of dollars and then going broke because of that."
Williams’ unexpected bunk on the Bulldogs late last week had Brown turning his thoughts to his first year at the Lions in 2000.
Then it was a former teammate, who disappeared unexpectedly – albeit for different reasons to Williams.
Williams is reportedly set to sign a big money contract with French rugby union club Toulon.
"I still remember when Adam Heuskes went AWOL, basically because he’d had enough and wanted to retire from the game," Brown said.
"It’s a different situation, obviously, with Sonny Bill Williams and the way it has all happened is pretty ordinary to say the least.
"I can understand that a bloke’s priorities and what he wants to do with his life might change mid-contract, but he hasn’t gone about it the best way.
"Sonny Bill Williams will end up with a stigma attached to his name and he might never be able to play NRL again."
Brown said he would like to see some sort of free agency provided for AFL players who had given long service to their clubs, but that otherwise the current system was working well.
"AFL players are probably the highest paid professional sportsmen in the country," Brown said.
"As long as players get their fair share when new TV rights deals are signed and things like that, I think we’re on the right track.
"One thing I believe we need to have is free agency of a kind for long-serving players. That’s the only thing I’d view as possibly being a bit of a restraint of trade and I think it’s something the AFL is looking to get to."
