The Lions have lost Josh Drummond (knee) for most of the season and Jared Brennan (ankle) for six weeks.
They hope to regain Daniel Merrett (hamstring), Andrew Raines (calf), Joel Patfull (hamstring) and Mitch Clark (groin) for Saturday night’s showdown with Geelong at the Gabba.
But Brown believes slowing the game down would reduce the growing injury toll in the game.
“I think to limit the rotations would be in the best long-term interests of the players and I think the best interests of the game,” Brown said.
“Medical technology, you would hope, keeps players going longer but (with) the pace of the game I’m not sure whether players can withstand it.”
Brown said most surfaces were hard and fast now, and while he didn’t advocate slowing the grounds down by watering them, he did say players were pulling up from games sorer than in previous years.
“The games are a lot faster and a lot more intense,” Brown said.
“Obviously the unlimited interchange increases the pace of the game and guys are running at higher intensity for a lot longer, therefore guys are going to pull up a little bit sorer.
“That’s something that the AFL needs to look at, but definitely the games over four quarters, they just increase in intensity year by year.”
Brown experienced pain after the Bulldogs game three weeks ago but has declared himself 100 per cent fit despite booting just one goal against the Dockers last Saturday night.
Brown said Brendan Fevola’s damaged heel is also improving with time.
The Lions beat Geelong by 43 points at the Gabba in round 15 last year, but the premiers were missing a host of stars.
The Cats come to Brisbane this time in hot form with the Lions trying to avoid four losses on the trot.
“We’ve gone through a difficult part of the season that’s for sure so we’re looking forward to challenging ourselves against the best,” said Brown.
“Some guys might be carrying niggles and some guys might be sore but the rest of the competition is as well - we've got to put that behind us and move forward.”
Brown said the Lions have slackened off defensively in recent weeks and need to start putting pressure on the opposition again.
They are certain to regain Matt Maguire from suspension to bolster the defensive spine.
And Fevola (599 goals) is set to snare a little piece of history to give the Lions some added motivation.
“He very rarely kicks no goals for the game so I would be pretty sure he will get that extra goal,” Brown said.
“I think Lynchy (Alastair Lynch - 633 goals) might have got 600 when he was up here so [Fevola] will be the second player to get to 600 at the Gabba.
"Hopefully the crowd will roar for him.”
