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AT THE top of his game, Jonathan Brown was a beast. He was aggressive, fearless, a genuine leader and always a threat to turn a match. He gave out and copped plenty. He was skilful, too.

In many ways, Brown was the modern era's version of the late EJ Whitten, the Footscray legend and champion of Victorian representative football who played in a similar style. There's little doubt 'Mr Football' would have loved watching Brown in his pomp.

In his recently released book Jonathan Brown: Life and Football (with Adam McNicol and published by Michael Joseph/Penguin), Brown details an encounter with Whitten in 1992 when he was only 10.

The Brown family was heavily involved with greyhounds and Jonathan had travelled to Melbourne to watch a few of the pups running at Olympic Park, across from the MCG. (The dog track was closed several years ago, with the land eventually being taken over by Collingwood).

"We had two dogs running: Rich Currency, who was a star, and My Mate Teddy. He was my favourite at the time. He thought he was a human," Brown said.

Both dogs won, but Brown said the highlight of the night was having Whitten present the trophy after Rich Currency's win.

"Teddy had been over the road at the MCG where Victoria's State of Origin side was training for a game against South Australia.

"Teddy had the crowd eating out of the palm of his hand when he got up on stage. And he won me over when he said, 'I'm bloody spewing. I heard My Mate Teddy won the earlier race and I would have had my house on it'."

The family and young Brown adjourned to the committee room for dinner, with Whitten joining them.

"He was such a lovable and engaging character. He wanted to know if I was involved in footy and how I was going.

"I told him I wanted to play for the Big V. He ruffled my hair and said, 'You'll get there, son'. That feels like yesterday. I can remember that, clear as day," he said.

"I still think about how lucky I was to meet Teddy Whitten like that."

State of Origin football had been phased out by the time Brown came to prominence, however in 2008, he would get the chance to wear the Big V when the then AFL hosted a 'best-of' clash to mark the 150th year of Australian football.

Brown captained Victoria on the Hall of Fame Tribute match at the MCG, booting three goals to help the Vics secure a 17-point win over an all-stars team made up of AFL players from outside Victoria.

"It was a proud moment when I pulled on my guernsey. I looked down at the Big V and thought about the time I met Ted at the greyhounds," Brown said.

"When I climbed onto the podium to receive the trophy, I decided I had to use Teddy's favourite line. I leaned into the microphone and bellowed, 'We stuck it right up 'em!' The crowd went berserk."

Brown retired at the end of 2014 after 256 matches, 594 goals and three premierships with the Brisbane Lions. He captained the club for seven seasons, was the Lions' best and fairest in three straight years, All Australian twice, won the Coleman Medal and led the club's goalkicking on five occasions.

The 34-year-old will skipper Victoria against the Matthew Richardson-captained All-Stars in this year's TradingPost.com EJ Whitten Legends game at Etihad Stadium on Friday, September 2.

Proceeds from the match will go to prostate cancer research and awareness. Whitten died in 1995 after a battle with the disease.