Campbell Brown has endorsed the elevation of Steven May as Gold Coast’s new co-captain

HIS altercation with Steven May outside an LA nightclub ended his career. But Campbell Brown says May is the right man to lead the Suns, along with Tom Lynch.

Tom Lynch and Steven May will captain the Gold Coast. Picture: Regi Varghese

CAMPBELL Brown has endorsed the elevation of Steven May as Gold Coast’s new co-captain alongside Tom Lynch, three years after an altercation between the two in Los Angeles brought an end to Brown’s AFL career.

And Brown hasn’t backed away from his claims that some of the Suns players were “filthy” Gary Ablett missed the start of preseason training after taking an extra week off.

The 2008 premiership player said May and Lynch were the most physical players on the Suns’ playing list and could play a role in changing a perception that Gold Coast were too often pushovers in terms of their aggression.

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“I think it’s fantastic,” Brown said of the co-captaincy arrangement after Ablett stood down from the role.

“The time is right to hand over the reins. The leadership those two have displayed on the field, but more importantly off it, has been fantastic.

“They have been the standouts at training and they demand professionalism. They are naturally the most physical guys out there and among the most vocal as well.”

Campbell brown and Steven May training together.

Gold Coast released Brown from his 2014 contract in December 2013 after he broke May’s jaw when the pair had an altercation outside a Los Angeles bar.

“Steven and I are OK now,” Brown said. “We don’t speak all that much, but I have sent him a couple of texts over the past few years when he has done well.

“I remember when he put that big hit on Tom Rockliff. He ended up getting three weeks, but I thought it was a good shirt-front, he tucked it all in.

“I said to him at the time to keep playing the way he was. It might cost you a few weeks here and there, but there was no one else there to do it, it was important for someone there to be throwing their weight around.”

Brown said he stood by his claims on Ablett that his non-appearance on the first day of the preseason raised eyebrows with his teammates.

“I wasn’t actually having a go at Gaz, I was just stating a fact that some of the playing group weren’t happy with it, and nor they should be,” Brown said.

Originally published as Campbell Brown has endorsed the elevation of Steven May as Gold Coast’s new co-captain