Jonathan Brown changes tune on Lions but still wary of Michael Voss’s Blues

A phone conversation with Michael Voss while standing on top of a ladder has Jonathan Brown wary.

But the Brisbane Lions great still thinks his old team, and the tall forwards he all-but wrote off earlier this year, has proved itself ready to win the club’s first flag in 20 years.

The Lions play Carlton in Saturday’s preliminary final at the Gabba.

Blues coach Voss was Lions captain when Brisbane last won a premiership in 2003.

Carlton has won 11 of 12 to reach this point, historically moving from fourth-last in the 15th round to finish in fifth place.

Former teammate Brown took a call from Voss this week while the retired full forward was painting atop a ladder.

“It’s a great story; he believes the resilience they’ve developed on the back end of their bad run was the catalyst.

“It’s going to be tough to regroup and go again.

“But he’s not satisfied. He wants to go all the way and that’s important.”

Brown was critical of Brisbane and particularly forwards Joe Daniher and Eric Hipwood after a poor round-three loss to the Bulldogs.

“No, they’re not [premiership key forwards],” he told Fox Footy in April.

“I’ve got serious doubts … any key forward needs to be reliable and predictable to his teammates — and I’m not seeing reliable and predictable teammates in Hipwood and Daniher at the moment.”

The pair have responded and Brown’s tune has changed, with Hipwood managing a career-best 40 goals this season and Daniher (56) booting five to star in the Lions’ qualifying final win.

He said Daniher’s ability to play in the ruck and get more involved, made possible by off-season shoulder surgery, had enhanced his threat up front.

“All big forwards want to know they can handle that,” Brown said of Daniher’s composure against Port Adelaide two weeks ago.