Brown: Blues were out to get me
21 June 2004
Herald Sun
Mark Stevens
CONCUSSED Tiger Nathan Brown has revealed he took a phone call soon after his 150th game on Saturday night confirming the Blues had set out to target him.
The key midfielder's milestone match was derailed when he was collected heavily in a first quarter incident involving Carlton full-forward Brendan Fevola.
Fevola, the hottest goalkicker in the game, was captured on video making contact with Brown's head in a round-arm motion.
Although the ball was nearby, the Blues are sweating on the outcome of video reporting officer Ian Robinson's review of the game.
Robinson was watching all available angles yesterday, with Fevola's fate expected to be known this morning.
Brown, sporting a cut beside his left eye, yesterday watched the incident for the first time as a guest on Channel 9's Sunday Footy Show.
"Was it big Fev, was it?" Brown said.
Asked if he had information that he was a pre-game target, Brown replied: "Yeah, I got that after the game – from a very good source, actually.
"I had a bit of a phone call last night. I won't name names."
When pressed further and asked if the incident was pre-meditated, Brown said: "I'm not saying it was pre-meditated. You go out there every week and I guess I copped a good whack there and Carlton got up.
"Carlton played great football and I take my hat off to them."
Brown, unbackable favourite to win the Tigers' best-and-fairest in his first year at the club, was always going to be a key to the club's hopes.
The Blues went with the close-checking Simon Wiggins on him. It was Wiggins who laid a tackle on a ducking Brown before Fevola became involved in the contest.
Brown returned in the third quarter, but had little impact. He finished with just eight disposals in 80 minutes of game time.
He conceded yesterday he had little recollection of the game after the Fevola incident.
"I think I played the first 10 minutes and came off . . . I've got no recollection," Brown said.
"Once the incident happened, I got taken straight off, but apparently I wandered around for about five minutes.
"I went into the rooms and came back out and we were 55 points down.
"In the third quarter somebody told me we kicked eight goals and I didn't even realise that."
Richmond football manager Greg Hutchison last night said Brown was closely monitored and given the nod to return after halftime.
Hutchison said if Brown had been suffering from concussion, it was only a very mild case.
"He was OK. He just wasn't aware of where he was," Hutchison said.
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