It is understandable why North Melbourne traded Ben Brown after the 2020 season.
The Kangaroos knew they were starting to begin a rebuild, and letting Brown go would ultimately help promote their young forward line.
Yet allowing him to go and only getting picks 26, 33 and a future fourth rounder in return might’ve been highway robbery for Melbourne.
Well, he only just helped the Dees deliver a premiership last season.
Brown’s unfortunate injury-riddled 2020 season left many wondering whether he could get back to the form that he once had at his previous club. And even the start to his time in the red and blue wasn’t ideal.
A knee injury kept him out for the first month of the season, then he was in and out of the side when finally recovering.
North Melbourne great Wayne Carey admitted that the player was potentially done at AFL level, writing in The Age during 2021 that he looked like a one-trick pony.
We have to remember however how good of a player Brown was at the Roos.
He achieved back-to-back second places in the Coleman Medal in 2018 and 2019, as well as coming fourth in the 2017 season.
It is important to note where North Melbourne finished on the ladder during each of these seasons: 15th in 2017, to then shooting up to ninth in 2018, and then slumping down to 12th in 2019.
The fact that Brown was able to stay within the top five forwards in the Coleman Medal running throughout these three seasons is quite remarkable.
Although North Melbourne’s midfield consisted of Ben Cunnington, Shaun Higgins, Jed Anderson, Jack Ziebell and Jy Simpkin when Brown was still a Roo, Brown will have much better service when leading up to the ball from the premiership-winning Demons midfield.
(Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
Melbourne’s ability to cause pandemonium for opposition defences when locating a forward within the 50 with precise skill will play into Brown’s hands this season.
It was lucky he joined the Demons when he did, knowing that when Mark Williams joined the club, he essentially implemented a basic skill kicking program, which has helped the team improve their disposal efficiency.
Clayton Oliver, Christian Petracca and the rest of the Melbourne midfield will have a big role to play in providing quality service when leading up to the ball, but that shouldn’t be an issue for the tall forward.
His first finals campaign in a Melbourne jumper saw number 50 booting six goals and of course three of them came in the grand final against the Bulldogs.
Only just two weeks ago in the practice match fixtures did we see number 50 have a bag of five against his former club.
You can take away what you want from these less meaningful matches, however Brown was clean below his knees and was marking the Sherrin at the highest point.
This is something Demons fans should be excited about.
What about the fact that Brown’s pre-season has been ideal. No niggles or serious injuries may just give him the boost to kick on and have a strong 2022 season.
The player just told the media recently that he’s the fittest he has ever been in his career heading into the upcoming season.
Throughout the pre-season, the Melbourne Football Club have been almost promising their fans that they will go back to back and win another premiership on their sacred home ground of the MCG.
Their chaotic brand of footy, mixed in with Brown’s ability to be a sharp shooter in front of goal, might just pay dividends for both parties.
Ben Brown has proven that persistence pays off, and such persistence might help him win his first Coleman Medal and be the first Demon since David Neitz to win the cherished goal-kicking award.
Munro Mike
Roar Rookie
I suspected his knee might be degenerative? As it was - Melbourne had the luxury of being able to wait to get the knee surgery done and keep him in the wings - - and well he may - - if right - - he may well be the value bet for the Coleman. He IS one of very few current day AFL forwards to have kicked 10 goals plus in a match (I was there that night). As it is though - generationally speaking - Brown is 29; and for North to move forward we had to make some 'hard calls'; for Brown in his late 20s he had trade value. It can be questioned whether we got full value in the trade and then it comes down to the use of those picks or points. I'm satisfied with the progress so far of Nick Larkey, however our forward line was showing signs of potency with Brown, Larkey and Zurhaar all together. That we've managed to sneak Callum Coleman-Jones in - I'm super excited about that because it gives us that 3 pronged attack again. Throw in the talent of Tarryn Thomas and it's looking more able to win games. And presumably for his first year at least - Horne-Francis likely to spend good portions of time forward (thinking of G.Ablett Jnr in his development years - was a very handy small forward before he fully built his midfield endurance). CCJ kinda crucial - - because he's a big body and approaching 23, with Larkey approaching 24 - they're both getting to that age of being a smidge more robust and resilliant (able to throw their weight around and not suffer too much for doing it!!). I'm also bullish about Charlie Comben; and hopeful to see Jacob Edwards developing in the VFL this year. Ben Brown at full forward right now at North would arguably be wasted. It's always nice for a win-win scenario. Brown has a premiership medallion. He's kicked important goals in the GF. And North are building a list that many approve of and many are optimistic about. So.........arguably win-win.
Kobe Jacobs
Roar Rookie
I like your trust in Weideman!
dab
Roar Rookie
Ben Brown will be in third place at Melb. 50 goals Sam Weideman 49 goals Tom McDonald 42 goals Ben Brown 37 goals Bayley Fritsch
Kobe Jacobs
Roar Rookie
Great question
pablocruz
Roar Rookie
Yeah. Fremantle town. Give 'em the keys I say.
Dale
Guest
Sour grapes
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Tabs, Treacy, Amiss will be the talk of the town.
Brendon the 1st
Roar Rookie
I had visions of him in teal, what a get by Melbourne
Brendon the 1st
Roar Rookie
I'd love Big Ben to win the Coleman
Pope Paul VII
Roar Rookie
Good question
Boo
Guest
Is Ben Brown the only player to leave a club that finished last and join a club that won the flag in the same season .
Macca
Roar Rookie
My thoughts exactly, especially when he has kicked more than last years coleman medal winning tally 3 times in his career.
Kobe Jacobs
Roar Rookie
Haha, Daniher will certainly be up there in the Coleman count if he stays fit and healthy.
Kobe Jacobs
Roar Rookie
For sure, a Matt Taberner/Ben Brown forward line would've caused many teams headaches.
DingoGray
Roar Guru
Yep I was aboard the recruit Ben Brown Train. Would of been a lovely addition to Lions forward 50! That we ended up with Joe Daniher was slightly disappointing, but I'm pretty happy with how his 1st 12 months in a Lions jumper ended up. Was also thrilled for Ben Brown to see him win a flag. Good to see nice guys don't always finish last.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
The key forward I most wanted Freo to chase. It seems every club wants a key forward to play like a midfielder these days. He is a classic FF. Fantastic kick too.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Key forward in the premiership team...hardly a smoky. Either Benny, Sonny or Tabs.
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
I am suspicious of all gingers from Tasmania,
Pope Paul VII
Roar Rookie
North let him go because they thought he was too big for his boots, asking for too much money. Apparently big money is not for home grown forwards. They gleefully let him go after his dreadful 2020 season. In terms of North's tall forward history he was about the 6th best in terms of goal average and aggregate. That's not the full story of course with North having had big game stars with lesser stats like Kekovich, Baker, Briedis but he was well up in effectiveness in a very defensive era. Whatever North are thinking, the fact remains they are short on tall forwards and they don't grow on trees. I think the problem Brown initially had at Melbourne, after an injury delayed start, was not getting the ball kicked to him on a lead (a common problem with the less experienced NM crew in 2020) and having a big headed McDonald anointing himself as the big man on campus. And all this palava about him earning his spot like somehow he hadn't earned a bit of respect in a very good career until his 2020 injury.