The 19-year-old was drafted by Collingwood in 2006 as the 10th overall pick. He has played 21 games this season and through his consistent form earned the Rising Star nomination in round 10.
Brown has had a tough initiation into senior footy playing on key-forwards Matthew Pavlich, Jonathon Brown, Matthew Richardson and Brendon Fevola in his first four games. Brown performed his role like a seasoned-defender, utilising his closing speed and strength to keep the league’s best forwards from having any significant impact while earning the respect of his teammates and coaches.
Brown has also showed his versatility playing as a forward for patches during the season. In round 4 against Carlton, Brown looked dangerous in front of goal kicking two first-half goals
The Ballarat native finished the home-and-away season leading the club in total one percenters (113) and averaging eight disposals a game.
Tomorrow, the AFL will announce the 2008 NAB Rising Star. Brown will be up against some of the best young players in the competition with his main challengers Rhys Palmer (Fremantle), Trent Cotchin (Richmond) and Cyril Rioli (Hawthorn) having great season’s of their own.
In 2007 Collingwood had three young players nominated for the rising star award in Scott Pendlebury, Martin Clarke and Tyson Goldsack, with Pendlebury finishing a close second to Geelong’s Joel Selwood.
Captain Scott Burns on Nathan Brown:
“He started the preseason by putting a bit of bulk on and got really fit. The opportunities he got early on were on big players, he wasn’t just thrown on the third or fourth tall. He got those big roles early and did very well.
You talk about rising stars, there are a lot of rising stars who are thrown onto the flank or in the midfield where you are probably are not getting tagged and can ease your way into it. Browny was thrown straight to the wolves.
He could have easily had goals kicked on him and maybe gone back to the twos for the rest of the year but he did well and it shows a bit about his character and his development he has gone through in the last 18 months.”
Coach Michael Malthouse on Nathan Brown:
“Nathan Brown has been a very consistent player who has played on the best tall forwards against the opposition week in and week out. He has rarely let us down. His next stage of development will be to be one of the best players on a regular basis. He has been there a couple of times throughout the year, but that is something that will come with experience.
"He has maintained his enthusiasm right throughout the year. Young players tend to drop off and he has been able to maintain his desperation and his physical well-being. He is a very proud person who commits to excellence on a week-to-week basis."
Assistant coach Blake Caracella on Nathan Brown:
“He was thrown in the deep-end and came out well. He was in great form for the first 11 or so weeks and then as young players do he dropped off a little. But he has come back in a strong manner which is very impressive. He played against Nick Riewoldt in round 19 and held him convincingly. He definitely is a good athlete. He is strong and powerful and can kick the ball a mile.”
