AFL chief teases Jonathan Brown over Bangkok deportation during Carbine Club lunch

AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon has taken a playful swipe at footy great Jonathan Brown over the former Brisbane Lions star’s infamous Bangkok incident from 2005. Speaking at the Carbine Club grand final lunch at Crown Melbourne, Dillon highlighted Brown’s wider life experiences, including the New York Marathon, before quipping about deportation from Bangkok.

Brown—who now works for Fox Footy—recounted the episode, describing how a celebratory trip after the season went awry. He said the group was taken off a plane by military police in Bangkok after celebrations became too rowdy. He was the first to be tapped on the shoulder and escorted off, with around 15 uniformed officers involved. Brown recalled that he initially feared drugs might have been found on board and noted that the plane even received a round of applause as the group left.

The Bangkok episode also involved a hotel and airport scene. Brown and several Lions teammates—Justin Leppitsch, Tim Notting, Fraser Gehrig and Steven Lawrence—were refused entry at Bangkok Airport. By contrast, Lions skipper Michael Voss and then-coach Craig McRae were allowed to enter Thailand. Brown and the others were not deported and were able to return to Thailand after about 24 hours.

Dillon kept the banter going, asking Brown about his so-called “cashies” that allegedly required him to dodge taxes, a dig Brown dismissed by saying his focus was Brisbane’s grand final preparation. Brown added that he did not foresee needing to chase cashies, given the Lions’ impending grand final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground against Geelong.

The exchange comes as Brown remains a prominent media figure and as Brisbane prepares to contest the league’s showpiece match. Brown’s Bangkok story has persisted in AFL folklore, with the 2005 incident serving as a reminder of how even high-profile figures can face unexpected travel headaches. Brown has since maintained a public-facing role in football media, while Dillon’s quip underscored the lighthearted, long-running camaraderie within the sport.