The Cats product returned to where it all began this week as part of the Tigers’ pre-season community camp trip to the Goulburn Valley.
Brown was selected by Richmond with pick 17 at the 2021 AFL Draft and enjoyed a strong season for the Tigers’ VFL outfit last year, sealing a two-year contract extension in October.
Amid a bit of attention from local Cats and Tigers fans on Monday, Brown said he always relished a trip back home.
“It’s so good to come back here; this is home, it’s a bit different now because everyone wants to talk to you, but I love it,” he said.
“You get to connect with the community again, which I haven’t done since I left, I just love it here.”
Brown said being back at the Cattery always brought back special memories.
“There’s so many kids here that I remember from running around at the footy on the weekend, or at primary and high school, there’s so many familiar faces,” he said.
“I have so many memories here, playing as a junior and then coming to watch the seniors play, they’re probably some of the highlights of my career so far.
“I got to play one senior game here, it’s something I always wanted to do and the players are guys I looked up to as a junior.”
A thriving Mooroopna community has been building at the club in recent years, and Brown said he could feel the support of every Cats fan as he embarked on another season at the elite level.
“There’s a real community feel — coming here you get a sense of how close every Mooroopna person is,” Brown said.
“I love the work Bill Dowling and John Lamont have done at the club, they’ve done such a great job, they’re building that community feel.
“I’ve got a lot of motivation from all the people here that have helped me out during my juniors, I want to do it for them.”
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