Suspended Brisbane co-captain Jonathan Brown has suggested the AFL is getting soft when he compares it to Rugby League’s State of Origin.

Brown is serving a two-game ban for a light blow to the jaw of Carlton defender Michael Jamison in round nine.

He said he was unhappy with the decision at the time.

His mood wasn’t helped by the one-game suspension handed to NSW’s Paul Gallen in Wednesday night’s Origin opener – for landing a flurry of punches on Queensland’s Nate Myles that would have attracted far greater penalties in the AFL.

“I was quite surprised when it all happened,” Brown said of his own ban.

“We know what Paul Gallen did last night in the State of Origin.

“He only gets a week for what he did and I get two for that.

“It’s just bordering on a bit soft, I think, so I was disappointed.

“It’s different codes but we’re men, mate.

“We’re men and we play a contact sport.”

Brown could have accepted a one-match suspension for his offence, but attempted to have it downgraded to a reprimand by arguing at the tribunal last week that it was reckless, not intentional.

He suggested the tribunal jury were “the only three blokes in Australia” who didn’t agree.

Brown also had a shot at the player he struck, Carlton defender Michal Jamison, for stopping and clutching at his jaw.

“I wouldn’t have sneezed if I got hit by that, fair dinkum,” Brown told the Nine Network’s AFL Footy Show on Thursday night.

“I just thought if I was getting whacked like that I might have stood up a bit quicker.”