And at 21, it’s only going to get more wild and exciting.
The Cats’ product had a slower start to life in the AFL than most after being taken by Richmond at pick 17 in the 2021 AFL Draft, featuring in the VFL the following year before an injury sidelined him for most of 2023.
But after racking up 18 games last season and featuring in both of the Tigers’ opening matches in 2025, Brown is very much back in the conversation at Punt Rd Oval.
Appearing on Richmond Football Club’s podcast, Talking Tigers, earlier this week, Brown spoke about his Mooroopna roots and how shooting hoops against a future NBA superstar on a $6 million salary led him down the route of football.
“I grew up in Mooroopna ... no-one really knows where Mooroopna is, so I just say I’m from Shepparton — but people from Mooroopna would hate me for that,” he said with a laugh.
“Mum’s family has been from there and Dad moved there from Echuca after he played footy in Geelong.
“It was footy from day one, but basketball as well — I was massively into my basketball.
“I actually played a Richmond fan, Dyson Daniels, I used to play basketball against him, and once I saw how good he was, I was like ‘oh god, there’s no hope I’m going to make it anywhere near where he’s going, I’ll stick to footy’.”
Brown didn’t have to look far for guidance once he decided to tread the path of footy.
After all, his dad wasn’t a half-bad footballer.
Paul Brown played 84 games for Geelong and, with his son now gaining a reputation as a clean ball user with a beautiful kick, he credits his formative years in the backyard as crucial to developing his major assets.
“I was a Cats fan; Dad forced me from day one, but they were always getting near finals, so it was exciting to watch them,” Brown said.
“Dad played about 84 games there, probably had a few knee troubles that took him out of the 100, but it is what it is. I ended up at the Tigers and I absolutely love it.
“Probably just kicking with Dad, I’m lucky that he could teach me — not everyone gets that sort of guidance as a kid.
“It’s something I never really thought about until I got to the club and they started pumping me up, so I thought I’ll try and bite off a few.
“They’ve been putting a lot of confidence in me and I’m backing it in.”
While Brown’s dad was Geelong through and through, recent antics would suggest he has changed his allegiance to a full-blown Richmond diehard.
After the Tigers’ round one win over Carlton, Brown senior was spotted wearing a sleeveless Richmond jumper adorned with badges of his son on the front.
“He’s 100 per cent gone full nuff, he’s all in,” Brown said when quizzed about his dad.
“But because the club’s such a good environment, they welcome him in with open arms and he’s absolutely loved it.
“He comes in, sits in the coffee area, talks some smack with the boys.
“He loves ‘Shorty’ because Shorty gives him heaps — he’s got the Jayden Short badge as well. The club’s such a good place for it because they embrace it.”
Brown has thrived at Richmond in the past 18 months and it’s hardly a coincidence that a fellow Goulburn Valley product’s appointment came at a similar time.
Shepparton’s Adem Yze was elected senior coach of the Tigers in September 2023 and, after serving under his tutelage since then, Brown is rapt to have a familiar face at the helm.
“He (Yze) is from Shepparton, so we’ve got a little connection there ... he actually played at my local club (Mooroopna) for maybe a year or two,” he said.
“He takes control of the room; he’s clear with his message that he wants to get across.
“I absolutely love the way he goes about it and he’s so smart.”
