Jonathan Brown slams AFL for poor treatment of one club in finals

Jonathan Brown has taken aim at the AFL for its finals draw, singling out the poor treatment of one club in particular.

Jonathan Brown (left) believes Port Adelaide has been treated harshly in the AFL finals draw. Photos: Getty Images

Renowned hardman Jonathan Brown has taken an almighty swipe at the AFL over its finals fixturing and the treatment of one club in particular.

No, it’s not his Brisbane Lions, the club he helped to three premierships in his glittering 256-game career.

Surprisingly, it is the Lions’ opponents in week one of the AFL finals, Port Adelaide.

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Brisbane, who finished second at the end of the regular season, will host the third-placed Power at the Gabba at 7.25pm AEST on Saturday night in the second qualifying final.

A curfew at Brisbane Airport then means the South Australian side can’t return home until Sunday and would face a likely six-day turnaround to host its next final if it loses to the Lions.

Jonathan Brown (left) believes Port Adelaide has been treated harshly in the AFL finals draw. Photos: Getty Images

It’s not just the reduced recovery time Brown complained about when it comes to Port.

The 41-year-old former All Australian also feels the decision is based on ratings, opting to put second versus third on prime time on Saturday night, rather than a clash between St Kilda and Greater Western Sydney.

The Saints and Giants have two of the smaller supporter groups in the AFL.

“I’m happy being a Brisbane supporter playing Saturday night, but I think it’s a bad move by the AFL,” Brown said on Fox Footy’s On the Couch on Monday night.

“I think Port Adelaide’s been harshly affected. They finished top four, they deserve preferable scheduling.

Home and away season ✅#AFLFinals 🔜 pic.twitter.com/QY0HxDWTEJ

— AFL (@AFL) August 27, 2023

“They deserve to be back home on Saturday night in their own bed.

“They won’t be able to do that, there’s a curfew out of Brisbane Airport, so they won’t get home until Sunday.

“If they lose, they have to back up essentially six days later. I think that’s poor from the AFL.

“Port Adelaide have earned the right to have a better schedule. That is a big mistake by the AFL.

“They want to go for the ratings. They probably think Brisbane-Port Adelaide is better than St Kilda-GWS on Saturday.”

Whenever the @AFL tells you it's all about the fans & members, just remember they scheduled 1st v 4th on a Thursday night in 2023 with a club with over 101k members & the other with 67k

It's all about TV rights & revenue.

Club members and fans mean NOTHING#afl#AFLFinals

— ▪️▫️DAVID▪️▫️ (@turtlemagpies) August 28, 2023

Brown has some experience in this department.

He was famously part of a Lions side that was forced to play a preliminary final at the MCG back in 2004 due to a contract agreement with the venue.

Somewhat ironically, Port Adelaide was the minor premier that year so earned a home prelim against St Kilda.

That left the Lions, who were chasing a historic fourth consecutive flag, playing in Melbourne to qualify for the grand final.

Topping it off, they couldn’t convince the AFL to change the 7.30pm starting time, giving Brisbane the same problems getting home that Port will face this weekend.

The Lions did win that prelim against Geelong, before losing the decider to Port the following week.

“I’ve lived it,” Brown said on Monday night. “This is probably digging up old scars.

“The difference in that one night at home being back in your own bed has a huge impact on recovery.

The Lions completed an undefeated season at home against St Kilda last weekend. (Photo by Russell Freeman/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

“That first 24 hours is critical. For a side that travels every second week, they would know the importance of that.

“I just think it’s poor for a top four team.

Brown conceded if Port win the game, and get a week off, it is all a moot point.

But he pointed out Brisbane’s imposing home record in 2023.

“Yes if they do win, it doesn’t really matter,” he said.

“But there’s a reasonable chance they’re going to lose up there, Brisbane haven’t lost a game at the Gabba this year.

“The AFL could’ve done a better job.”