💔 “He Just Wouldn’t Let Go…”: Jonathan Brown has finally broken his silence on the heartbreaking health bɑttle he kept hidden for so long — revealing the EMOTIONAL moment his children learned the devɑstɑting truth about their father’s condition… and the tearful reaction that left him shɑttered

Much-loved AFL great Jonathan Brown says the shock discovery of his brain tumour was like finding a “ticking time bomb” in his head.

The news of the bombshell diagnosis was made public in March, and the AFL world immediately reached out to the former Brisbane superstar who was — and still is — universally admired.

“Seven weeks ago I was training the house down … I was fit as a fiddle and I was shooting the lights out on the golf course. A day later your life changes,” Brown — who commentates for Fox Footy — said.

“I didn’t know, I was walking around with a ticking time bomb in my head.

“So it’s a great message for everyone, not just ex-footballers. For everyone.”

Brown, 44, was a key part of Brisbane’s famous triple premiership team between 2001-2003.

And he became emotional when discussing his three children and their response to his diagnosis.

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

“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.

“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 when I saw their faces after that.”

Brown has had surgery to remove the tumour and he is expected to return to work within the next few weeks.

He said in March “a shadow” on his brain was discovered when had a routine scan.

“that turned out to be a low-grade brain tumour,” he said.

“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.”

Brown played 256 games for the Lions and was one of the youngest members of the club’s 2001-03 premiership hat-trick.

He is a two-time All-Australian, led Brisbane’s goalkicking five times, and captained the side for four seasons.

He retired in 2014 following the last of multiple sickening concussions and facial injuries.

Brown had 15 plates and 64 screws in his face and suffered “about 20” concussions by the end of his career, while he also dealt with headaches and balance issues.

7NEWS.com.au is not suggesting a link between the concussions and his brain tumour.

But the head knocks defined the latter stages of his stellar career as he bravely fought on for a Brisbane side that struggled to contend for finals.

His last concussion came from a knee to the head in an accidental collision with GWS player Tom Bugg.

Despite friends and premiership coach Leigh Matthews urging him to retire, the decision only came when Brown asked his then four-year-old daughter Olivia about whether he should keep playing.

“She looked at me in the eyes and said ‘no, you can’t play footy any more. You can only play footy if the Lions come down and play on the grass with us at our place’,” Brown wrote in his autobiography.

“That’s when it finally became real that I was going to retire. I finally acknowledged that I was still forgetting stuff, still had headaches and still had problems with my balance.”

Brisbane doctor Paul McConnell had previously feared for Brown’s life when he suffered a friendly-fire concussion in 2011.

“I honestly thought he was going to die. Thankfully an ambulance arrived very quickly. He didn’t move at all until we started moving away from the Gabba,” McConnell said in the book.

“I would say he was totally and utterly unconscious for at least five minutes, maybe six or seven. It was one of the worst injuries I have seen in my life.

“In all honesty I wasn’t confident that he was going to survive until he started moving his limbs as we were driving up the ramp into the Princess Alexandra Hospital.”