The courageous wingman had been asked to play full-forward that season and excelled. He'd kicked five goals in the second semi-final to take his tally to 47 for the year.
So when he was knocked out on the quarter-time siren – soon after kicking the Magpies' second goal – all hell broke loose.
He sat on the bench in the second quarter attempting to remember where he was (these days he would probably be subbed out of the game under the concussion rule) as the Magpies opened up a 34-point lead.
Collingwood coach Leigh Matthews told Brown's assailant, Essendon's Terry Daniher, that Brown would be back as the players left the ground at half-time but few in the crowd expected to see the 23-year-old return.
When he did, early in the third quarter, a roar resonated around the MCG as he headed straight to Daniher.
He chested his opponent and made his displeasure clear. Before the quarter was out, Brown had kicked his second, latching on to an errant handball from Essendon's Mark Thompson who was under pressure from Doug Barwick.
The lead had stretched to 40 points and Collingwood was home.
Brown had kicked 49 goals for the season, including 14 in the finals.
Of the 20 heroes born that day among Magpie fans, Brown's courage stood out in the aftermath.
