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How Brown overcame being passed up in four drafts
SEN • October 26th, 2025 10:56 am
With a journey in football that’s as travelled as his run up for a set shot, Ben Brown has reflected on his playing career after retiring from the sport last season.
After being overlooked in four AFL drafts, the Tasmanian got an opportunity in the AFL after being drafted with North Melbourne in 2013.
And once he broke into Kangaroos’ side in Round 14 in 2014, Brown didn’t look back.
During his seven seasons with the club, he booted 287 goals in 130 matches, which saw him make several extended All-Australian squads towards the end of the 2010s.
But at the end of 2020, he then decided to leave Arden Street to join Melbourne.
And in his first year, he would be a part of the Demons' drought-breaking premiership in 2021.
The full forward would manage to play on for another three seasons before deciding to retire with a consistent knee injury impacting his ability to play more games.
Brown is now turning his hand in the coaching space, having worked with Melbourne’s AFLW side while playing.
He is currently working with Essendon’s AFLW side as their head of development.
Listen to the full episode with Sam Edmund below.
