AFL great Jonathan Brown has opened up about his family’s emotional reaction to the discovery he had a brain tumour.

In March, Brown revealed he underwent surgery on a “low-grade brain tumour” in a major health scare after his wife Kylie urged him to get checked.

In a joint Instagram post with wife Kylie, Brown shared a photo from a hospital bed and said he had surgery.

“After undergoing a routine scan, I was recently made aware of a shadow on my brain that turned out to be a low-grade brain tumour,” he wrote.

“I underwent surgery Wednesday with a positive outcome. I understand a surgery of this nature creates interest and once I have recuperated, I will share my experience but for now I need to take some time to rest and recover.”

The Brisbane Lions great has recovered well and sat down for a chat with Fox Footy’s Garry Lyon for a special interview to be aired on Tuesday night on Kayo Sports.

Jonathan Brown said his kids were emotional after learning of his diagnosis. Photo: Kayo Sports.
Brown spoke about his children’s emotional response to the news he had been diagnosed with a brain tumour.

“Jack’s 13, little Min is 11 and Olivia is 16,” Brown said.

“Liv’s a bit like me, probably a bit stoic. Jack, even though he’s a bit of a rugby league knockabout, he’s the sensitive one of the family.

“He come and gave me the biggest cuddle I’ve ever copped from anyone. He had tears, he just wouldn’t let go. He squeezed me that tight he nearly snapped me in half.

“That was hard. The worst thing you want to do in your life is break your kid’s heart. It felt like you were on the precipice. I tell you what, I was ready to fight after I saw their faces.”

Speaking on Kayo Sports, Lyon said: “It’s unbelievable the whole story. He had no idea. He said he was a ticking time bomb. It just so happened that Kylie pestered him about going to get sorted out.”

Brown, 44, was inundated with well wishes from the footy community when he shared he had undergone surgery.

Jonathan Brown underwent surgery on a brain tumour. Photo: Instagram.
“Rest up big fella, thinking of you guys,” wrote Sam Docherty, who battled testicular cancer twice while playing for Carlton.

Channel 7’s Abbey Holmes commented: “Oh Browny! So scary. Speedy recovery! X

“Speedy recovery legend,” wrote Carlton great Anthony Koutoufides.

Geelong champion Tom Hawkins said: “Speedy recovery Big Jon.”

Brendan Fevola commented with love heart emojis.

Jonathan Brown presents the 2025 premiership cup at Brisbane’s opening game. (Photo by Russell Freeman/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
Fox Footy’s Garry Lyon spoke about Brown’s condition at the time, saying he’d had a “pretty challenging week or so.”

“We’re throwing our thoughts out to one of our great mates, Jonathan Brown, who sits on this panel and has done for a very long time and one of the all-time favourites at Fox Footy,” Lyon said ahead of a game.

He had a routine scan and was made aware of a shadow on his brain that turned out to be a low-grade brain tumour.

“He underwent surgery on Wednesday and had a really positive outcome. I spoke to him about two hours ago. He was full of beans, bouncing around talking to Kylie and annoying her.

“On behalf of us at Fox Footy and the broader footy community, there’s been few more popular players than Jonathan Brown and few tougher.

“We send you our love big fella, take it easy, rest up, recuperate. We look forward to seeing your big ugly mug back on here in the not-too-distant future.”

Jonathan Brown at the Fox Footy season launch. .Picture: NewsWire Handout
Brown, a leading AFL expert commentator, attended Fox Footy’s season launch in February and looked in good spirits when he presented the premiership cup at the Brisbane Lions’ season opener earlier this month.

He won three premierships with the Brisbane Lions in 2001-03, kicking 594 goals in 256 games for the Lions. He is a two-time All Australian and won the Coleman Medal in 2007.

Brown was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 2020.

The key forward is a three-time winner of the AFPLA Robert Rose Award for Most Courageous Player.