Brown made the announcement at a hastily convened press conference on Monday afternoon at which he sat alongside current Lions coach Justin Leppitsch, and former coach Leigh Matthews.

Brown's playing future had been the subject of intense speculation since he was concussed during the Lions' defeat to GWS in Round 13. It was the latest in a string of facial and head injuries which have plagued his final few seasons in the AFL.

Debuting in 2000, Brown played a key role in the Lions' trifecta of premiership triumphs between 2001 and 2003. He won the Coleman Medal in 2007, was a dual All-Australian and three times claimed the club's best and fairest award.

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