June 01, 2008

BRISBANE star forward Jonathan Brown says he wants the Lions to offer him a contract that will keep him at the club for the rest of his AFL career.

Brown, 26, comes out of contract at the end of this season, prompting regular speculation that he could move to a Victorian club.

But he suggested that he was keen to stay with the Lions, although he said he needed to make the most of current negotiations because it was probably the last time in his career he would wield major bargaining power.

While he would not confirm speculation that he has requested a five-year deal from Brisbane, Brown said he wanted long-term security.

“I'd like a long-term deal and if that could see me out to the end of my career that would be great, but that's up to the club, isn't it,'' Brown told Melbourne radio station 3AW.

The triple-premiership forward, who sustained a minor knee injury against North Melbourne, was confident his body would hold up long enough to see out at least another five years.

“I think I can go well into my 30s, I've always looked after myself, I know there's a lot of talk about the centre half-forward position I suppose being brutal on your body,'' Brown said.

“But I'm still only 26, to get to 30 or early 30s is quite achievable now.

“I don't train as hard as I used to, I certainly don't do as much running as I used to and I certainly try to look after my body a bit better and I probably play a little bit closer to goal as well.

“So apart from that knee I copped a little bit last night, there's nothing structurally wrong with that, my body's in sound condition.''

While admitting that he sometimes looked enviously at the blockbuster clashes played by big Victorian clubs, Brown said other factors were more important in his decision on whether to stay with the Lions or head to his home state.

“The premiership window is a huge thing, that's what's exciting about up here in Brisbane,'' he said.

“We genuinely think we've got a side that over the next four or five years could be thereabouts anyway, so that's pretty important.

“But no doubt towards the end of your career, the finances and life after footy a little bit have got to come into consideration and lifestyle too, where you want to live.

“As you get a little bit older and wiser you've obviously got to weigh up those sorts of things.

“This is the last time I'm going to be in this situation where I suppose I've got a bit of bargaining power.''

Meanwhile, Brown said he hyper-extended his knee in a marking contest, a repeat of an injury he sustained in the pre-season, but was confident of playing against Fremantle next Sunday.

“I'd expect to play this week, but at the very worst you might miss one week,'' he said.