A REFRESHED Jonathan Brown will take the field for the first time this year on Saturday night, confident his mind and body are ready for the rigours of a 14th AFL season.
The Brisbane Lions co-captain, now 31, says a pre-Christmas break and the prospect of more team success have him feeling fit and eager.
"I still love the physical challenge of getting out there every week," Brown said after touching down in Melbourne on Friday ahead of the NAB Cup clash with Collingwood.
"The game gets harder and harder every year, but it's very enjoyable."
Brown played in three successive premierships in the Lions' golden era from 2001-03, but has tasted September action just once in the past eight years.
"At this stage of your career you're really only focussing on team success," he said.
"I've been fortunate enough to feel what team success is like, and you'd love to get that feeling again.
"I just play year by year now.
"I'm really excited by where the group's going, and as long as we keep improving and I can keep contributing, I'll be enjoying my footy, which is the main thing."
The famously courageous forward was given a light workload towards the end of 2012, partly to allow his battered body to rest, and partly due to a bicycle accident in October.
"No doubt it takes a fair bit longer to recover these days at the end of the season," Brown said.
"But I feel freshened up and rejuvenated.
"How long that lasts into the season I'm not sure, but the way they've managed me throughout this pre-season has put me in really good shape.
"It's important to at least start the season not banged up."
Brown said he hoped to play "two pretty full games" in the next two weeks, to have him ready for round one of the home and away season.
He was also confident of a win over the Magpies, which would see the Lions through to the pre-season Grand Final.
"We're down here to win this weekend," Brown said.
"We're playing our best, fittest side available.
"We haven't got the luxury of picking and choosing what games we play well in and not.
"We've just got to hopefully keep the form going."
And the hard man gave his thoughts on the AFL's controversial interchange cap, which has been trialled at 80 during the NAB Cup and will be introduced at a yet-to-be-determined number for the 2014 home and away season.
"I think the game's going pretty well," he said.
"I thought the substitute rule worked well last year, I've got no problems with a cap, and I don't think our club's got any problems with it either.
"In 2003 I think the average rotations was about 35, and the game looked alright then.
"So 80, I don't think it's that big of a deal.
"At the end of the day, if you can get more one-on-one contests, whatever the rules are that lead to that, it's good for the viewers and good for the players."
Jonathan Brown is a forward in AFL Fantasy. He averaged 79.5 points in 2012. Register your team at our AFL Fantasy hub.
