SOMETIMES enough is enough.
That's what Brisbane Lions coach Justin Leppitsch said when asked about Jonathan Brown's future on Thursday morning.
The first year coach was asked extensively about the champion forward's future after Brown was concussed at the weekend following another sickening head knock.
Leppitsch said Brown owed the Lions nothing and if he felt now was the right time to hang up the boots, then he should do it.
The Lions coach drew on his own experience of retiring mid-year in 2006 and also highlighted the mid-season retirement of West Coast captain Darren Glass as examples of players knowing when their time had come.
Leppitsch has spoken to Brown – who failed a concussion test and will not travel to play Fremantle on Saturday – throughout the week.
"I support him with whatever he wants to do," Leppitsch said.
"The biggest thing I said to Browny is "you don't owe this football club anything".
"There's a certain point … that you've got to say "I think that's enough".
"I retired mid-year, Daren Glass retired a few weeks ago… point being is that you don't have to feel like you have to stick around just because you owe us something.
"If the time's now, the time's now.
"He's a very loyal man that doesn't want to do the wrong thing by people. I was taking that pressure off him so he can make the decision that's right for him."
Leppitsch is not only Brown's current coach, but a former triple-premiership teammate and a good friend.
He said the extra week off for Brown recovering from the concussion – which will coincide with the arrival of his third child – could be useful extra thinking time.
"As a friend … it worries you. Browny's had a lot of concussions. Anyone that cares about Jonathan Brown would be concerned about that," he said.
"He's played the game a long time and had a few, and I think we all get concerned for him for that reason."
Brown has played 256 games, kicked 594 goals and is clearly the most marketable figure in the Lions' team.
Leppitsch was adamant no decision had been yet been made on Brown’s future.
Twitter: @AFL_mikewhiting https://twitter.com/AFL_mikewhiting
