The future once looked blurry for Jonathan Brown – then again, three serious head knocks in 12 months can have that effect.

But Brown, 30, is backing his battered body to hold out until the once mighty Lions regain their Midas touch – and reckons that will be sooner rather than later.

As speculation swirled around teammate Simon Black’s future, Brown – off contract at the end of 2013 – said on Thursday he hoped to hang up the boots when the Lions were once again the toast of the AFL.

And he believed they were on the right track ahead of Sunday’s Gabba clash with Western Bulldogs.

Finals footy is once again out of reach for the three-time premiers but the Lions can seal three straight wins this weekend for the first time since early 2010.

“I’m enjoying it and the body’s feeling not too bad,” Brown said.

“I know I’m towards the back end of things but, while you’re enjoying your footy and while the group’s heading in the right direction, I’m keen to keep rolling.

“I’d love to just keep playing until we can get some success.

“I’m a realist about it. You weigh things up at the back end of every campaign, I think.

“The main thing is you’ve got to be enjoying the training and enjoying the footy and getting some on-field success and we’re starting to get that as a group.”

The Lions (13th; 9-12) believe 10 wins this season will be a pass mark after tasting victory only 11 times in the past two years – including just four in 2011.

“I know we’re heading in a positive direction so that’s a pretty big motivating factor for veterans like Blacky and myself that are fortunate enough to be involved in a lot of successful teams,” Brown said.

“At this stage of our career, we just want to play for team success.”

Black looks set to contest his 16th season next year but reports on Thursday claimed talks had stalled over the contract terms.

Black, 33, has reportedly baulked at running out next year on a lower base wage with incentives for matches played.

The report prompted a terse statement from the Lions on Thursday.

“The club has made it very clear that Simon Black is a wanted player at the Brisbane Lions,” Lions football manager Dean Warren said in the statement.

“We are currently in the process of finalising an agreement with Simon and his management team that will see him enter a remarkable 16th season in 2013.”

Brown relished the thought of rubbing shoulders with Black in 2013.

“All indications at the moment are he’s keen to keep playing,” he said.

“We’d love to see him keep playing.

“He’s still our main contributor in the midfield.”