THERE are few things more unsettling for twins than to be sent to opposite ends of the country at age 17.

But when Nathan and Mitch Brown were drafted within 30 seconds of each other to Collingwood and West Coast respectively in 2006, they both instantly had new teammates that had been through it all before.

Mitch joined Adam Selwood, whose brother Troy has carved out a career with the Brisbane Lions, while Nathan quickly formed a bond with Shane Wakelin and Ryan Lonie who both had twin brothers at Port Adelaide.

Nathan says he struggled with the separation at first but said Wakelin and Lonie would lend advice when it was needed.

“When Mitch started to get a game and I wasn’t, those guys were really helpful and would have a chat about the ups and downs of the competitiveness of being a twin,” Brown said.

“Just things like how to cope with one having a purple patch when the other one is not, those guys were really good to get information off.

“It can be hard being so far apart. We’re pretty close and Mitch is probably my best mate. Leaving him when we were 17 was a young age to lose a best mate. I’m happy that he’s following his dream and I’m following mine. As long as that is the case we’re pretty happy to be apart.”

While Mitch may have debuted first, Nathan leapfrogged him this year, starring for the Magpies in defence while his brother recovered from a knee reconstruction.

But Nathan, older by 20 minutes, says Mitch has been setting a cracking pace in his recovery.

“I haven’t spoken to him too much but I’ve heard he’s going really well and his knee is holding up,” he said.

“He’s got himself really fit so I think he’s just going to put on a bit more weight but he’s going well and I think they’re happy with him over there.”

While the Lord, Scott and Febey twins played most of their careers side by side, Nathan acknowledges that in this day and age it would be almost impossible to see the two Brown boys in the one AFL side. While he would relish the prospect of being reunited with his best mate, he says he would not leave Collingwood to pursue the dream.

“Wakes played with his brother at the start of his career (at St Kilda). I would love to play with Mitch one day but I want to stay with Collingwood for my career. If it was going to happen, he’d have to come down here. That’s up to him I guess but I would really like it,” he said.

Brown played 23 games for the Magpies this year and looks set to be the future of the Collingwood backline following the retirements of Wakelin, James Clement as well as Simon Prestigiacomo who will most likely play his last year in 2009.

He says his older teammates have been a strong source of information as he learns the craft of being a tall defender in the AFL.

But he doesn’t agree with the suggestion that he has extra pressure now that Clement and Wakelin have retired.

“I don’t look at it that way. I take what I’ve learnt from those senior guys. Even though I’m only in my second year I want to go full steam ahead and keep learning from these older blokes because they know what they’re doing,” he said.

Speaking just days before departing for Collingwood’s trip to Arizona, Brown says he has enjoyed getting back into pre-season training.

“The first week is all about transition. You just have to blow out the cobwebs and get a good run in,” he said.

“We’re heading to Arizona, so it’s good to get a good blow out before we get over there. I can’t wait.”