A widely respected community leader off-field, Ben Brown became part of history on field winning the 2021 AFL Premiership.
Ben Brown is the nephew of former Collingwood and Fitzroy player, James Manson. Brown represented Tasmania in the U18 National Championships in 2010 however was not drafted at the years end.
Alternatively, Brown continued to play his football at home before moving to Melbourne in 2013 where he joined Werribee in the VFL.
Brown was a part of Werribee’s finals campaign, making the preliminary final before falling short of a grand final appearance. He kicked a total of 29 goals in his 18 appearances as well as rotating through the ruck.
North Melbourne recruited Ben during the NAB AFL Draft in 2014, taking the forward-ruck hybrid at pick 47.
Despite facing early setbacks in his 2014 campaign, Brown bounced back and played his debut game in Round 14 against Melbourne. From his 11 appearances, Brown kicked 18 goals for the season. Most notably, Brown played his best game in North’s elimination final where he kicked 4 goals.
2017 was a breakout year for Ben, kicking a huge 63 goals and being North’s leading goal-kicker for two consecutive years. 63 goals saw Ben place as the 3rd best goal kicker in the league, earning himself an All-Australian nomination at the year’s end.
Ben also represented Australia in the International Rules Series against Ireland, proving to be a key figure in the side’s forward line.
In 2018 Brown kicked 61 goals from 22 games, finishing second in the Coleman medal behind Richmond’s Jack Rielwoldt and once again gaining selection in the 40-man all Australian squad.
In 2019 Brown became just the third North Melbourne player to kick 60+ goals in three consecutive seasons. Brown was again named in the 40-man All Australian squad.
Brown was traded to Melbourne at the end of the 2020 season, where initially he struggled with injury and breaking into the Dees ladder leading side.
However he brought his goal kicking prowess when it mattered most, playing an integral part in the finals series and eventual Premiership in 2021.
Ben is a husband to Hester and father to daughters Aila and Esme.
A strong advocate for community affairs, Ben is an ambassador for Our Watch which is a national leader in the primary prevention of violence against women and their children in Australia.
He is passionate about using his platforms to be a strong and vocal advocate for gender equality and the prevention of violence against women.
Ben has completed a Bachelor of Arts majoring Journalism and Sociology, and has written numerous articles for the Herald Sum in the past.
Other interests include basketball, movies and board games, while he is also a proud Asics ambassador.