Brown to lend some experience
Jonathan Brown will headline a relatively inexperienced Lions forward line in 2012.
His likely cohorts will include new recruits Jordan Lisle, Dayne Zorko and occasionally even draftee Billy Longer, as well as budding young forwards Aaron Cornelius, Patrick Karnezis and Bryce Retzlaff.
While Cornelius, Karnezis and Retzlaff have at least been at the Club for longer than 12 months, the trio have only played alongside Brown for a combined total of 15 senior matches.
Cornelius - who has played 14 matches in three seasons with the Lions - has shared the forward line with his inspirational skipper on just three occasions.
Brown is aware that he could be the only ‘old head’ in attack for the Lions in 2012, but is determined to help educate his less experienced team-mates throughout the pre-season.
“(The forward line) is probably the most inexperienced part of the ground for us,” Brown said.
“It’s certainly something I’m conscious of, and I’ll just keep working with the guys during training to help pass on little tips here and there.”
“All of the kids coming through now are fast and athletic, so they won’t be looking to me for tips on that,” he laughed.
“But some of the nuances of the game and forward line play I’ll try to pass on.”
Having returned from Arizona last week, Brown said his focus now was to maintain his fitness and build up his body in preparation for contested drills.
“It was certainly a battle to keep our weight on over there (in Arizona),” Brown said.
“But it was good fun getting to eat twice as much, that’s for sure. They do get a little bit carried away over in America with their buffets.”
“I’m probably a little bit leaner (than I’d like), so I’ve probably got to stock up in readiness for some contact work.”