For hard nut Campbell Brown, attacking every contest with maximum effort and aggression coupled with little regard for self preservation has always come naturally.

In this week’s special SUNS TV Player Feature, Brown says teams striving to play deep in to September must have a competitive edge and a collective willingness unmatched by those around them on the Premiership Ladder. 

“To win big games and Grand Finals you need to be a tough, hard, ruthless footy club and at Hawthorn we were known as just that,” he says.

“Sides who don’t do that will win games here and there, but to make finals and stand up in the big crunch games, it’s the teams that have a win-at-all-costs mentality that go on to achieve greatness.”

An integral part of the Hawk’s 2008 Premiership glory, Brown says he was beginning to see a trend emerging at Metricon Stadium which closely reflected his playing days at Waverley Park.

“It’s something that we’re starting to develop,” Brown said when asked about the Gold Coast’s rising desire to win.

“We have guys that relish the physicality of the game in Steven May, Danny Stanley and Jaeger O’Meara.”

While Brown has often coming under scrutiny for his rough style of play, the 203-game swingman has learned to balance his aggression for the betterment of the team and in doing so has assumed an on field leadership this season as a key player in  Coach Guy McKenna’s forward line.  

“It comes pretty natural to me – I can’t play like Gary Ablett, Jaeger O’Meara or Harley Bennell.”

“We’ve all got negatives and positives and different attributes and mine has always been my physical presence with the way I tackle, chase and bump.”

Brown says his team mates have this year realised that they can physically match it with most sides in the Premiership, and is confident the Gold Coasters are on track to achieve what he believes will be sustained success. 

“I think as a collective we are becoming a harder and tougher football club,” he said.

“If we can bring that attitude to any game we’re in, then we’ll always give ourselves a chance of winning.”