Brown made it back-to-back Brisbane Lions Club Champion awards on Saturday night, in something of a surprise result, after eventual runner-up Simon Black was highly fancied to pick up a fifth medal.
But the win was reward for a season in which Brown kicked 70 goals, took more marks than any other player at the club and finished as either the highest or equal-highest rated Lion in eight out of the 22 games.
Under the Lions’ voting system, in which each player is awarded a score between 0 and 5 in each game by the match committee, Brown polled 53.5 votes to win from Black (51) and Luke Power 46.5
In accepting his award, Brown left the assembled crowd at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre in no doubts as to where the Lions will be aiming next year.
“We definitely think we’ve got the talent to be there in September,” Brown said.
“We’re growing and it’s exciting. (Michael Voss) has come in as the new coach and all the guys have really jumped into that.
“I hope all the fans can jump on board and hopefully we can continue our progression. Leigh (Matthews) has left a terrific legacy and left the side in terrific shape on the upwards slide.
“I’m fairly confident we’ll be in finals football next year.”
Brown’s words echoed the opening address of Lions chairman Tony Kelly, who urged the players to move on and not view 2008 as a year in “limbo.”
For a second consecutive year, the Lions finished in 10th position.
“We didn’t take a step back (this year), but neither did we advance up the ladder. I do feel that we improved, but only slightly,” Kelly said.
“You (the players) are another year tougher, another year wiser and another year more match hardened. And you should be another year even more determined to reach September.
“You have the knowledge that you beat five of the eight eventual finalists. Believe in yourselves and I hope you remember the disappointment of this season so it burns and smoulders away into a killer instinct for season 2009.
“Nothing is impossible. Everything is possible. Just ask Hawthorn.”
In Saturday night’s count, Brown polled relatively slowly but steadily through the season’s first six rounds, but had moved to third place behind Black and running defender Joel Macdonald by the end of round 12.
The power forward went to the top of the leaderboard prior to round 18 and stayed there, holding off Black and Power.
The top five was rounded out by Daniel Bradshaw (43.5) and Jared Brennan (42), with Michael Rischitelli and Macdonald not far behind. Macdonald would almost certainly have been within striking distance of the top-three had he not missed five games with an ankle complaint.
Brown, Power and Black split the individual overall awards on the night. Power was named Members Player of the Year and Black received The Courier-Mail Player of the Year award.
