Benjamin Brown is an Australian rules footballer who plays for the North Melbourne Football Club in the Australian Football League. Brown played his junior Football for the Devonport Football Club. Brown made his debut in round 14, 2014 against Melbourne. Brown kicked a goal in his first game and impressed coach Brad Scott enough to keep his spot the following week. Brown went on to be an influential player in the North Melbourne team in the latter stages of the season with strong performances in the finals series. Brown went on to become an elite forward in the competition and became well known in particular for his unique, extremely long run up for goal. He finished the 2014 season with 18 goals, improving in 2015 with 32 and once again in 2016 when he kicked 41 for the season, allowing him to win North Melbourne's leading goal kicker award. In 2017, Brown kicked a career best 63 goals, allowing him to win North Melbourne's leading goal kicker award for the second straight year. Brown also finished third in the 2017 Coleman Medal behind Josh Kennedy and Lance Franklin, with his form also paving the way to a spot in the 40-man All Australian squad. 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. During round 22 of the 2019 season Ben Brown kicked a career high 10 goals in an 144 - 58 win over Port Adelaide. This was the first time in 20 years a North Melbourne player had kicked 10 goals in a game since Wayne Carey did so back in 1999. He finished the 2019 season having kicked a career best 64 goals from 22 games, finishing second in the Coleman medal for a second year running behind Greater Western Sydney's Jeremy Cameron and won the North Melbourne goal kicking award for the fourth year in a row. He again gained selection in the 40 man all Australian squad for the third year in a row but was again unlucky missing out on the final 22. During the 2017, 2018 and 2019 home and away seasons Brown finished 3rd, 2nd and 2nd in the Coleman medal and kicked a combined total of 188 goals across 66games, this was the most of any player In the AFL over that time period. Brown is the grandson of footballer and politician Jim Manson and nephew of former Collingwood player James Manson.. Brown married Hester Mary Brown on 14 October 2017, and together they have one child, Aila Ruby Brown.
