He only had to wait six years to taste the elation of winning a premiership, but it’s taken more than a decade of hard work, on the training track and playing field for Campbell Brown to join one of the AFL’s most elite groups.

On Saturday night, Campbell Brown will be welcomed into the magical 200-game club when he runs out for the Gold Coast SUNS against Brisbane at the Gabba in QClash6.

Debuting against Adelaide in Round 11 during the 2002 Premiership Season after being taken by Hawthorn with the 32nd pick in the 2001 AFL National Draft, the 179cm key player quickly became noted for his tough approach to footy and willingness to put his body on the lines for the contested football.

The All-Australian defender has enjoyed an illustrious AFL career, playing a key role in Hawthorn’s 2008 Premiership and earning representative honours during the 2006 International Rules Series.

But while Brown acknowledges his milestone moment will be worth treasuring at the end of his playing career, the inaugural Gold Coaster says his only priority against the Lions is redemption after the fierce forward was forced to watch from the sidelines in QClash5 whilst serving his six-week suspension.

‘I’m rapt to finally get here and it’s a good little personal milestone but the bigger picture is playing well and getting the four points in the crucial QClash,” he said.

The defender-turned star forward has been in vintage form since his return against Melbourne, kicking 14 goals in seven matches and providing a wealth of on field experience and leadership.

Although he is yet to re-sign with the club, Brown has hinted on a number of occasions recently that he would like to extend his playing career into the 2014 season.

"The way I'm feeling at the moment, I'm feeling fantastic. If I can finish the year off really strongly the way I've been playing, I'll certainly look to play on next year," Brown said.

"It's a pretty big nine weeks for the footy club and myself and there's a few other guys in the same boat.

"I'm not going to rush the decision and just keep plugging along the way we're going because I think it’s working."

Brown said the senior team remained committee towards developing and improving as a playing group, and would look at building stringing together a series of strong performances with a win over the Lions this weekend.

“We’re winning more games of footy now and I think there is a better understanding amongst the playing group now about what our roles are and how important it is just to playing group role and do all the little things when they come,” Brown said.

“We let ourselves down against Adelaide, a game which went begging, and we’ve certainly addressed those issues on where we went wrong.

“We’re ready crack in against the Lions.”