Past #50: Ben Brown - Traded to Melbourne with 2020 #28 + 2021 R4 for 2020 #26 #33 + 2021 R4(Bris) - 130 gms / 287 gls - thanks Ben

[ferball]

Ironically ... they'd blow so much smoke up his arse it'd interfere with his natural work ethic and desire to improve. He'd stop working on his limitations and think he'd "arrived" early last year.

It would have been non stop media hype since he arrived, what we've seen at north would be very low key in comparison. This year would be his worst so far and be considered disappointing but things would still go downhill next season and some time in June 2018 they'd turn on him like the wild dogs they are.

 

[Bigeasy]

Some of his crumbing goals have been as good as anything anyone else has done that week and barely rate a mention in the regular goal of the week highlight packages every media organisation comes out with.

Good post. He is very underrated below his knees.

 

[KillaKanga]

Good post. He is very underrated below his knees.

Big below his knees is still my waist height so is it really good????

Nah, just kidding. His ability to have clean hands so low and still snap around the body is elite. Daniher does it and the media spoof all over each other.

 

[Hearts to hearts]

Big below his knees is still my waist height so is it really good????

Nah, just kidding. His ability to have clean hands so low and still snap around the body is elite. Daniher does it and the media spoof all over each other.

I know. I heard someone on the radio say "imagine if you could combine Daniher's ability to get the ball with Ben Brown's ability to kick goals", and all I thought was, "then you'd have Ben Brown".

 

[giantroo]

Ben Brown relishing his role as the focal point of a flexible North Melbourne forward line
http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/ben...e/news-story/efd0149d6ec15738908e6ddd0543b2e6

• May 24, 2017 11:31am
• RILEY BEVERIDGE@rileybev
• Source: FOX SPORTS

BEN Brown had a clear plan on Sunday afternoon.

Stay deep, exploit an undersized Demons defence and help the Kangaroos secure an upset.

Given Melbourne’s susceptibility to rival key forwards this year — the Dees had already conceded big bags to Nick Riewoldt, Tom Hawkins, Jack Riewoldt and Jarryd Roughead among others earlier in the season — it was a cunning plan from North Melbourne coach Brad Scott.

But it was also a plan that fully encapsulated the trust the club has in Brown — a player who has become one of the game’s premier young forwards since his debut in 2014.

Now the focal point of a flexible and dangerous Kangaroos forward line following Drew Petrie’s departure at the end of last year, Brown has continued to add impressive new strings to his bow.

Ben Brown celebrates one of five goals on the weekend.Source: AAP
Such a marked improvement has further enhanced the reputation of a player overlooked in three consecutive national drafts and someone who earned his way on an AFL list at the age of 21 through hard work at VFL level with Werribee.

His consistent development has also enabled him to become the main man inside North Melbourne’s forward line, taking on the role held by Petrie for so long.

“We’ve all done our jobs,” Brown toldfoxfooty.com.au.

“It’s probably meant that I’ve had to play a little bit deeper and be a target a little bit more.

“But Jarrad Waite’s been out of the side for the majority of the year, Mason Wood has been in and out as well, so once we’ve got those guys there it’ll take a little bit of the weight off me.

“We have guys like Taylor Garner as well — he’s a ripping mark of the footy — so it means I don’t always have to always fly, which is nice.”

Being the main man is nothing new to Brown, though.

In his final season with Werribee, he kicked 28 goals from 18 games and combined his output on the scoreboard with an ability to rotate through the ruck all season.

His 39 contested marks were the second most taken in the VFL in that campaign and led to a push from then-Werribee coach Scott West to have him drafted onto the senior list.

Now, surrounded by a better quality of teammate at the Kangaroos, it’s no surprise to see the young forward leap from strength to strength across his first 64 senior games.

Ben Brown was best on ground in North Melbourne’s victory.Source: Getty Images
On Sunday, for the first time this season, North Melbourne was able to trial a forward line consisting of Brown, Waite, Wood and Garner in the same game.

And the benefit of such a dangerous unit was clear to see.

Although Waite — the most senior of the group — was held goalless, his presence enabled the others to shine, with Brown, Wood and Garner combining for 10 goals between them.

“It doesn’t matter what Jarrad does on game day as far as scoreboard output, it’s his defensive pressure and him bringing it to ground that matters,” Brown said.

“When he does get the opportunity, he finishes off well, so it’s good to have him back in the side.”

For the Kangaroos, Sunday’s victory was reward for effort.

Having endured narrow losses to Geelong, the Western Bulldogs and Fremantle in recent weeks, another close match appeared to be slipping from their grasp.

But thanks to Brown’s heroics — he kicked two in an impressive first quarter and three more in a third term where North Melbourne re-established its dominance — the Kangaroos held firm.

Now 3-6 on the season, Scott’s outfit has kept fears over its demise at arm’s length.

“The way we shut it down in the last few minutes and managed to come away with a solid win, it’s really satisfying for us,” Brown said.

“We’ve obviously had a few difficulties down the stretch in the past, so it was good to get over the line and get the win.

“We’ve shown patches this year of really good, solid football and that we can match it with anyone.

“But we haven’t managed to put it together for four quarters and we’ve probably shot ourselves in the foot towards the end of some last quarters.

“To get a win on Sunday that was really solid, we’re really happy with it.”

 

[Long Live the King]

Weve got a good one boys. On a lead has arguably the cleanest hands. His contested marking is improving. Solid goalkicking. Aerobically improving. Yep in 12 months will be ahead of Hawkins / Tex / Roughead....

 

[bengrina]

When we drafted him I was filthy . He's proved me wrong and I couldn't be happier . Better than tex in a year though long live the king . Really ?

 

[Pep Fraudiola]

55 goals would be a great result.

Honestly think he could get to 70 with our draw. I'm expecting some more bags now. Already has a 5 & 6.

 

[Jindrrk]

When we drafted him I was filthy . He's proved me wrong and I couldn't be happier . Better than tex in a year though long live the king . Really ?

Eh?

When I was watching VFL I was hoping we would draft him and was so glad that they did.

 

[Twinkletoes]

Eh?

When I was watching VFL I was hoping we would draft him and was so glad that they did.

Same here and one asset he possesses in spades which no stat sheet would illustrate is character and determination (ok, that's two). The bloke is still yet to have a single uninterrupted preseason, has been and often is playing with knee issues, yet he fronts up and gives his all time and time again.

We have a bloody ripper alright. He could be anything!

 

[ferball]

Same here and one asset he possesses in spades which no stat sheet would illustrate is character and determination (ok, that's two). The bloke is still yet to have a single uninterrupted preseason, has been and often is playing with knee issues, yet he fronts up and gives his all time and time again.

We have a bloody ripper alright. He could be anything!

Spot on.

It is a credit to him that he is playing AFL. He seems to be someone who takes improvement and working on his game very seriously and he just gets better and better. He always does team things, always works for his teammates and always seems to push himself to improve his weaknesses. just having that mentality in the club provides great leadership.

I've always wondered how he'd end up - whether he'd actually make it or not. Right now I think he has a massive future, if his body holds up. I think he might even get into the leadership group next year.

 

[discomute]

Just thinking about him in context of Kelly/Martin

Say he continues to play well and finishes 6th in Coleman

Next year is his last season in his contract. What sort of price tag do you think he's worth? It'd have to be around 800/y , yeah?

 

[Pep Fraudiola]

Just thinking about him in context of Kelly/Martin

Say he continues to play well and finishes 6th in Coleman

Next year is his last season in his contract. What sort of price tag do you think he's worth? It'd have to be around 800/y , yeah?

He can have Swallows $550k and gibbos $300k when his current deal expires.

 

[ferball]

He can have Swallows $550k and gibbos $300k when his current deal expires.

Gibbo due for a pay rise ya reckon?

I agree wholeheartedly.

 

[discomute]

He can have Swallows $550k and gibbos $300k when his current deal expires.

Yup well I am not saying we might not be able to afford him, just wondering what he is worth. Danniher is worth 1m according to reports, that seems silly to me. So if BBB is a bit less than Danniher, right or wrong, is 800k too much?

 

[Shermanator]

Good post. He is very underrated below his knees.

Robin Nahas board?..

 

[Pep Fraudiola]

Yup well I am not saying we might not be able to afford him, just wondering what he is worth. Danniher is worth 1m according to reports, that seems silly to me. So if BBB is a bit less than Danniher, right or wrong, is 800k too much?

Brown will take unders because he loves us and doesn't strike me as the mercenary type.

He is improving as much as anyone on our list YoY, so it really is just the beginning for Browny, imagine he gets a bit stronger through the core....

****ing gun.

 

[shimaburnsgrieg]

Brown will take unders because he loves us and doesn't strike me as the mercenary type.

He is improving as much as anyone on our list YoY, so it really is just the beginning for Browny, imagine he gets a bit stronger through the core....

******* gun.

For me that is the key point for Benny - to get stronger through the core. Grundy showed him up for lack of strength in one on ones (granted that Grundy is probably the best FB in the strength department).

For Benny to be elite he needs to be able to hold his ground, push back on the defender and take the contested mark one on one - sometimes he will be one against two. He is still getting pushed under the ball too often.

The rest of his game is already there - strong mark on the lead, strong overhead when he has a free run at the ball, very accurate kick, has football smarts and is generally too mobile for his direct opponent at ground level.

 

[discomute]

If chopping the arms starts to get paid he will double goal output

 

[lockheed]

Just thinking about him in context of Kelly/Martin

Say he continues to play well and finishes 6th in Coleman

Next year is his last season in his contract. What sort of price tag do you think he's worth? It'd have to be around 800/y , yeah?

A very good question. We have the ability to offer two million dollar plus contracts, and pay a significant amount up front, but we do still have to look after our own talents.

Happy to assume that the list management team know their stuff.

 

[marklovesbeer]

From the first 9 games he has been the first goal scorer in the game 5 times.

Money for jam.

 

[Daniltchenko You Beauty]

From the first 9 games he has been the first goal scorer in the game 5 times.

Money for jam.

I had a few bucks on Higgo for first goal last week at ~$25.

He ran inside 50 with plenty of space in front of him but dished off to Browny for the Joe the Goose.

Bloooooooody Higgo.

 

[discomute]

I had a few bucks on Higgo for first goal last week at ~$25.

He ran inside 50 with plenty of space in front of him but dished off to Browny for the Joe the Goose.

Bloooooooody Higgo.

Always bet on Brown

 

[Woodson]

From the first 9 games he has been the first goal scorer in the game 5 times.

Money for jam.

T.M.I.

 

[Deddy]

I had a few bucks on Higgo for first goal last week at ~$25.

He ran inside 50 with plenty of space in front of him but dished off to Browny for the Joe the Goose.

Bloooooooody Higgo.

I had a few on Browny, so good work higgo.