GEELONG'S first-round draft pick Mitchell Brown grew up an avid North Melbourne supporter.

Selected at No. 15 in last month’s NAB AFL Draft, the Cats hope Brown can one day develop into the match-winner the skinny youngster so wanted to be when watching his old team play.

While most at Skilled Stadium would be rapt if the former Sandringham Dragon turns out to be even half the player former North captain Wayne Carey was, one thing is certain – Brown is making a massive climb.

If you had have told him 12 months ago that he'd now be at an AFL club he would have laughed. If you had forecast he'd be selected where he was, he probably would have recommended you see a psychiatrist.

"I think I got cut from Sandy in the [under] 16s or 15s," Brown recalled.

"I tried to get back in, like my coach rang them up and all that kind of stuff but never got invited back.

"I was always mainly a cricketer, so that would go until the end of March."

Once just mid-sized with neat skills, there was nothing to set the Mentone Grammar student apart from the dozens of others trying to push their name in front of the TAC Cup selectors.

But about 18 months ago, hormones took over. While the growth spurts of others had ended, Brown’s was just starting.

"I think I was 176cm two years ago … now I’m 195cm," he said.

"There might still be a little bit more left."

As he grew, Brown continued to play footy but not just with the Dragons.

Hearing reports of his progress, they were keeping an eye on him and the new-look Brown – a lead-up, key-position target – was in their sights.

"The coach came out and watched me at school footy and I was lucky enough to be invited down halfway through this year," Brown said.

Before long, he was an integral part of Sandringham's make-up. He settled into TAC Cup footy with aplomb, playing alongside the likes of Jack Watts and Tom Lynch.

The only difference from school footy was that it was "just a bit quicker".

Six months later, he was at state screening sessions with AFL clubs watching his every move.

He had meetings or spoke to 12 of the 16 clubs, so he knew his stocks had risen – and risen quickly.

"I was thinking maybe [that I might be going] interstate, so I’m pretty stoked to still be in Victoria," Brown said after a light session at Lorne alongside fellow young Cats.

"It’s been a bit of shock, all this stuff.

"I’ve never done a pre-season before. It’s all kind of new to me."

So too will be the weights sessions that awaits him this summer.

A recent photograph in the local Geelong paper – with Brown alongside fellow draftees Taylor Hunt and Tom Gillies – showed the gym work required.

But work is something Sandringham's regional manager, Wayne Oswald, says Brown won’t shy away from.

"For one reason or another [he] wasn’t picked in the sifting process [but] he used that positively which shows a great mind," Oswald said.

"I just think he’s the right height. He’s got a fantastic kick, he’s got terrific hands.

"You know no-one comes with the complete package. I could tell you 10 things on Jack Watts that he needs to get better at.

"Mitch is all of that, he’s a great height … [but] I love his kick and his catch."