Ben Brown (footballer)

Last updated

Ben Brown
Ben Brown 2017.1.jpg
Brown playing for North Melbourne in June 2017
Personal information
Full name Ben Brown
Place of birth Hobart, Tasmania
Original team(s) Werribee (VFL)/Glenorchy (TSL)/Devonport
Draft No. 47, 2013 national draft
Height 200 cm (6 ft 7 in)
Weight 101 kg (223 lb)
Position(s) Forward/ruckman [1]
Club information
Current club Melbourne
Number 50
Playing career1
YearsClubGames (Goals)
2014–2020 North Melbourne 130 (287)
2021–2024 Melbourne 45 (73)
Total175 (360)
International team honours
YearsTeamGames (Goals)
2017 Australia 2 (2)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2024.
2 State and international statistics correct as of 2017.
Career highlights
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Benjamin Brown (born 20 November 1992) is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the North Melbourne Football Club and Melbourne Football Club in the Australian Football League. [2] [3]

Contents

Brown is well known for his unique, extremely long run up on set shots. [4] [5]

AFL career

North Melbourne (2014–2020)

Brown played his junior football for Devonport Football Club, then played for Glenorchy Football Club in the Tasmanian State League before being selected 47th overall by North Melbourne in the 2013 national draft. After a development stint at then-Kangaroos affiliate Werribee in the VFL, Brown made his AFL debut in round 14, 2014 against Melbourne, kicking a goal and impressing coach Brad Scott enough to keep his spot the following week.

Brown went on to be an influential player in the North Melbourne team in the latter stages of the season, with strong performances in the finals series. He finished the 2014 season with 18 goals, improving in 2015 with 32 and once again in 2016 when he kicked 41 for the season and captured North Melbourne's leading goal kicker award for the first time.

In 2017, Brown kicked a career best 63 goals, allowing him to win North Melbourne's leading goal kicker award for the second straight year. Brown also finished third in the 2017 Coleman Medal behind Josh Kennedy (65) and Lance Franklin (69), with his form also paving the way to a spot in the preliminary 40-man All Australian squad. In 2018, Brown kicked 61 goals from 22 games, finishing second in the Coleman Medal behind Richmond’s Jack Riewoldt and once again being selected in the 40-man All-Australian team.

In round 22 of the 2019 season, Brown kicked a career high 10 goals in a 144–58 win over Port Adelaide. Brown became the first North Melbourne player to kick double-digit goals in a game since Wayne Carey did so back in 1999. He finished the 2019 season having kicked a career best 64 goals from 22 games, finishing second in the Coleman medal for a second year running behind Greater Western Sydney's Jeremy Cameron (67) and won the North Melbourne goal kicking award for the fourth year in a row. He again gained selection in the initial 40-man All-Australian team for the third year in a row but was again passed over for the final 22.

During the 2017, 2018 and 2019 home and away seasons Brown finished 3rd, 2nd and 2nd respectively in the Coleman Medal and kicked a combined total of 188 goals across 66 games, the most of any player in the AFL over that time period.

After a 2020 season hampered by injury in which he only played 9 games and kicked 8 goals, Brown was put up for trade by North Melbourne. [6] He eventually requested a trade to Melbourne, and was traded on the final day of the 2020 trade period. [7] [8]

Melbourne (2021–2024)

After an injury-hampered start to the 2021 season, Brown became a mainstay of the Demons’ forward line in the second half of the year and throughout the Demons’ finals campaign. [9] Brown scored three goals in Melbourne's 2021 AFL Grand Final win. [10]

After a slew of injuries as well as undergoing knee surgery, Brown announced his retirement from football on 19 August 2024. [11] [12]

Personal life

Brown is the grandson of footballer and politician Jim Manson and nephew of former Collingwood player James Manson. [13]

Brown attended secondary school at St Brendan Shaw College in Devonport. He has since completed a Bachelor of Arts from Deakin University in Victoria. [14]

Brown married Hester Mary MacKinnon on 14 October 2017, and they have two daughters. [15]

Brown is a vegan, celiac and an advocate for greater action on climate change. [16] [17]

Statistics

Updated to the end of 2024. [18]

Legend
  G  
 Goals
  K  
 Kicks
  D  
 Disposals  
  T  
 Tackles
  B  
 Behinds  
  H  
 Handballs  
  M  
 Marks
SeasonTeamNo.GamesTotalsAverages (per game) Votes
GBKHDMTGBKHDMT
2014 North Melbourne 5011189664110749171.60.86.03.79.74.51.51
2015 North Melbourne 502232171527222499211.50.86.93.310.24.51.02
2016 North Melbourne 5022411817465239115281.90.87.93.010.95.21.30
2017 North Melbourne 5022633018076256120272.91.48.23.511.65.51.214
2018 North Melbourne 5022612418660246100242.81.18.52.711.24.51.16
2019 North Melbourne 5022643418757244108252.91.58.52.611.14.90.38
2020 [a] North Melbourne 509884913623160.90.95.41.46.93.40.70
2021 # Melbourne 501325131022412669201.91.07.81.89.75.31.50
2022 Melbourne 501930191145917379171.61.06.03.19.14.20.90
2023 [b] Melbourne 5071144422662661.60.66.33.29.53.70.81
2024 Melbourne 506742611371821.20.74.31.86.23.00.3
Career175360180128049917798141932.11.07.32.910.24.71.132

Notes

  1. ↑ The 2020 season was played with 17 home-and-away matches per team (down from 22) and 16-minute quarters with time on (down from 20-minute quarters with time on) due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
  2. ↑ 2023 statistics include one game in which Brown was substituted out of the game (round 3) and was replaced by Jake Melksham.

Honours and achievements

Team

Individual

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Longmire</span> Australian rules footballer, born 1970

John Longmire is the former senior coach of the Sydney Swans in the Australian Football League (AFL) from 2011 to 2024. As a player, he represented the North Melbourne Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL) from 1988 to 1999.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Werribee Football Club</span> Australian rules football club

The Werribee Football Club, nicknamed the Tigers, is an Australian rules football club based in the suburb of Werribee. The club was formed in 1964 and currently plays in the Victorian Football League (VFL). It is the western-most Melbourne-based VFL club as of 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Josh Kennedy (footballer, born 1987)</span> Australian rules footballer, born 1987

Joshua James Kennedy is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the West Coast Eagles in the Australian Football League (AFL). He previously played for Carlton from 2006 to 2007 and is regarded as one of the best key-forwards of his generation.

The 1991 AFL season was the 95th season of the Australian Football League (AFL), which was known previously as the Victorian Football League until 1989. The season ran from 22 March until 28 September, and comprised a 22-game home-and-away season followed by a finals series featuring the top six clubs, an increase from the top five clubs which had contested the finals since 1972.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jack Riewoldt</span> Australian rules footballer (born 1988)

Jack Riewoldt is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played for the Richmond Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He is a three-time premiership player, a three-time Coleman Medallist, a three-time All-Australian, an 12-time Richmond club leading goalkicker, a two-time Jack Dyer Medallist and a Tasmanian Football Hall of Famer. He served as Richmond's vice captain during all three premiership seasons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hawthorn Football Club</span> Australian rules football club

The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed the Hawks, is a professional Australian rules football club based in Mulgrave, Victoria, that competes in the Australian Football League (AFL). The club was founded in 1902 in the inner-east suburb of Hawthorn, making it the youngest Victorian-based team in the AFL.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jack Gunston</span> Australian rules footballer

Jack Gunston is a professional Australian footballer who plays for the Hawthorn Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He previously played for the Brisbane Lions and the Adelaide Football Club.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeremy Cameron</span> Australian rules footballer

Jeremy Cameron is a professional footballer with the Geelong Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He previously played for the Greater Western Sydney Giants from 2010 to 2020. Cameron has kicked the most goals (427) for Greater Western Sydney, and led the club's goalkicking in all nine of his seasons at the club, with his 67 goals in the 2019 home-and-away season earning him the Coleman Medal. He is also a four time All-Australian and won the Kevin Sheedy Medal in 2013. Cameron won his first premiership in 2022 with Geelong.

The 131st season of the Victorian Football League/Victorian Football Association was held in 2012. Geelong won the 2012 VFL Premiership, defeating Port Melbourne in the Grand Final.

The 2013 VFL season was the 132nd of the Victorian Football League (VFL), a second-tier Australian rules football competition played in the state of Victoria. The premiership was won by Box Hill who defeated Geelong by 21 points in the Grand Final.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kyle Hartigan</span> Australian rules footballer

Kyle Hartigan is a former professional Australian rules football player who last played for the Hawthorn Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL), having previously played for Adelaide. Hartigan was selected with the Crows' first pick, number 14 overall, in the 2012 Rookie Draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jesse Hogan</span> Australian rules footballer

Jesse Hogan is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the Greater Western Sydney Giants in the Australian Football League (AFL). A key forward, Hogan is 1.95 metres tall and weighs 100 kilograms (220 lb). He was a standout basketballer and footballer at a young age, representing Western Australia in both sports and played in the West Australian Football League colts competition with the Claremont Football Club. He was rewarded with All-Australian selection as a junior in the 2012 AFL Under 18 Championships and in turn, he was drafted by Melbourne with the second selection in the 2012 mini-draft, meaning he was ineligible to play in the 2013 AFL season. After a back injury ruined his 2014 season, he made his AFL debut in the 2015 season and won the Ron Evans Medal as the AFL Rising Star. In his first two playing years for Melbourne, he was the leading goalkicker in both seasons. In October 2018, he was acquired by Fremantle in a trade that sent him back home to Western Australia, however, after two unsuccessful years at the Dockers, Hogan was traded to Greater Western Sydney.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alex Neal-Bullen</span> Australian rules footballer

Alex Neal-Bullen is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the Adelaide Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). A midfielder, 1.82 metres tall and weighing 80 kilograms (180 lb), Neal-Bullen plays primarily as a half-forward. He played top-level football early when he played senior football for the Glenelg Football Club in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL) at eighteen years of age, in addition to representing South Australia at the 2014 AFL Under 18 Championships. He was recruited by the Melbourne Football Club with pick 40 of the 2014 AFL draft and he made his AFL debut during the 2015 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mitch Hannan</span> Australian rules footballer

Mitchell Hannan is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played for the Western Bulldogs and Melbourne in the Australian Football League (AFL), having been initially drafted to the Melbourne Football Club. A forward, 1.90 metres tall and weighing 87 kilograms (192 lb), Hannan has the ability to play as a forward and in the midfield. After failing to play in the TAC Cup as a junior, he joined the St Bernard's Football Club in the Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA) where he won a premiership and the best on ground in the 2015 VAFA Grand Final. The next year, he played with Footscray in the Victorian Football League (VFL) where he won his second premiership in as many years. His performances in the VAFA and VFL saw him recruited by the Melbourne Football Club in the 2016 AFL draft and he made his debut in the opening round of the 2017 season. He was a delisted at the end of the 2023 AFL Season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tyson Stengle</span> Australian rules footballer

Tyson Stengle is a professional Australian rules footballer who plays for the Geelong Cats in the Australian Football League (AFL). Stengle played junior representative football with Woodville-West Torrens in the SANFL and represented South Australia at national championships at under 18 level. He was drafted by the Richmond Tigers in the 2017 rookie draft, made his AFL debut in round 15, 2017 and was traded to the Adelaide Crows in the 2018 trade period. He was delisted by Adelaide prior to the 2021 AFL season, but proceeded to join the Geelong Cats in 2022, winning the premiership with them that year. Stengle lives with Eddie Betts in Melbourne.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 VFL season</span> Australian rules football season

The 2018 VFL season was the 137th season of the Victorian Football League (VFL), a second-tier Australian rules football competition played in the state of Victoria. The competition ran between April 2018 and September 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bayley Fritsch</span> Australian rules footballer

Bayley Fritsch is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the Melbourne Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). A forward, 1.88 metres tall and weighing 84 kilograms (185 lb), Fritsch has the ability to play as both a high marking and small crumbing forward. Considered a late bloomer, he missed out on selection with the Eastern Ranges in the TAC Cup as a junior. After winning the league rising star in the Eastern Football League, he joined the Casey Scorpions in the Victorian Football League (VFL) where he spent three seasons. The 2017 VFL season saw him win the Fothergill–Round Medal, play for Victoria in the state representative match, be named in the VFL Team of the Year, and finish runner-up in the league-leading goalkicker and Casey's best and fairest award. His season saw him drafted by the Melbourne Football Club in the second round of the 2017 AFL draft and he made his AFL debut in the opening round of the 2018 AFL season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brody Mihocek</span> Australian rules footballer

Brody Mihocek is an Australian rules footballer who plays for the Collingwood Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He was selected at pick 22 in the 2018 rookie draft. He made his senior debut against Fremantle in round 11 of the 2018 season, kicking 4 goals.

Kysaiah Klem Paul Kropinyeri-Pickett is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the Melbourne Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). A forward, he is 1.71 metres tall and weighs 72 kilograms (159 lb).

Luke Jackson is an Australian rules footballer who plays for the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL), having previously played for the Melbourne Football Club.

References

  1. ↑ "Ben Brown". North Melbourne Football Club. Archived from the original on 21 December 2016. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
  2. ↑ "North Melbourne gives Werribee's Ben Brown the ultimate birthday present". Herald Sun. 22 November 2013. Retrieved 25 November 2013.
  3. ↑ "AFL draftee Ben Brown is ready to grab his chance with North Melbourne". Mercury. 23 November 2013. Retrieved 25 November 2013.
  4. ↑ Harrington, Anna (10 July 2018). "Ben Brown discusses his goal kicking routine and techniques contributing to his accuracy". foxsports.com.au . Fox Sports Australia. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  5. ↑ @AFL (20 July 2018). "It may be unusual, but it's effective! @FOXFOOTY compare Ben Brown's run-up to some other key forwards.#AFLPiesNorth" (Tweet). Retrieved 9 December 2021– via Twitter.
  6. ↑ "Bye-bye, Ben? Big forward on trade table as Kanga clear-out rolls on". AFL Media. 23 September 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  7. ↑ "Make me a Dee: Big Ben says it's time for a trade". AFL Media. 2 November 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  8. ↑ "North to Melbourne: Big Ben now a Demon". AFL Media. 12 November 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  9. ↑ "How the new Ben Brown has helped Melbourne to the cusp of a premiership". 9 September 2021.
  10. ↑ "AFL grand final: Melbourne win first AFL Premiership for 57 years in bulldogs thrashing". Sporting News. 25 September 2021. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  11. ↑ https://x.com/melbournefc/status/1825438176611274863?s=46&t=TGif9H5gbH55wGTb24y8dA [ bare URL ]
  12. ↑ "Ben Brown has undergone knee surgery". 25 January 2024.
  13. ↑ Ben Brown is North Melbourne's man of the moment and a heart-warming story
  14. ↑ "All round nice guy Ben Brown kicking goals on and off the field – DScribe" . Retrieved 11 July 2024.
  15. ↑ "Tassie's star Roo scores big in love". The Mercury. 17 October 2017.
  16. ↑ "Ben Brown – World Vegan Day Melbourne". Archived from the original on 11 September 2021. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
  17. ↑ "'We all have a role': More than 260 Australian rules footballers sign up to climate campaign". TheGuardian.com . 16 October 2021.
  18. ↑ "Ben Brown statistics". AFL Tables. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.