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Brown was recruited into Collingwood from Templestowe where he would contribute to the side for longer than a decade. Brown was part of the Magpies under-19 premiership side in 1986 with team-mates Damian Monkhorst, Mick McGuane and Gavin Crosisca, who would all make their debuts with the senior side in 1987. Brown quickly showed his true values as a tough and courageous footballer who was a great man off the field. He would earn the nickname 'Rowdy' due to his quiet approach off the field. Brown started well in his career, earning his first Victorian guernsey in State of Origin football in his debut season. In 1989 Brown would turn from good young footballer into a great young footballer, winning the club's best and fairest, after finishing third the year before. In the same year, Brown made an impact against South Australia in State of Origin, winning the EJ Whitten Medal. His great form lead into 1990 where Brown played a vital part in the Pies premiership, their first in 32 years. Brown played mainly as a forward, after he started his career as a wingman. He would be knocked out in the quarter-time brawl in the Grand Final against Essendon, but would return late in the game, and kick his second goal and celebrate early. A year later, Brown would continue his enthusiastic and courageous work on the field, and finish runner-up in the best and fairest, and earn his first All-Australian selection, as a half-forward. Brown was an extremely courageous player, and he was duly rewarded for this when the AFLPA awarded him the inaugural Robert Rose Award for Most Courageous Player in 1991, and then again in 1992. In 1994, Brown would be rewarded for his hard work with the captaincy, and he played good footy. He would gain his second All-Australian selection, and win his second Copeland Trophy for being the club's best and fairest, finishing equal with recruit Nathan Buckley. He would suffer hamstring injuries in 95-96, which would almost slow his career, but in 1997 he answered back, winning his third Copeland Trophy and he would captain the state side, and win a second EJ Whitten Medal against the South Australians for his best on ground performance due to a brilliant job on Darren Jarman. He would hand over the captaincy at the end of 1998, despite his willingness to keep the leadership role, but was forced to pass it over to Buckley. As his career was coming to an end, he continued to play brilliant footy in 1999 despite the lack of success, and would be strong with the youngsters around him, with another top 3 finish in the best and fairest. He retired at the end of 2000 after 254 games with Collingwood and kicking 194 goals in an outstanding VFL/AFL career. Brown would become an assistant coach to Mick Malthouse since retiring, and in 2002 was awarded a spot in the Collingwood Team of the Century, filling in as the fourth interchange player. He would also be inducted in the club Hall of Fame and in 2008 was appointed senior coach of Collingwood's newly created VFL side. |
