Forever a boy from Ballarat, Nathan Brown is now one of Collingwood’s most trusted defenders.

On Sunday, Brown will celebrate his 100^th game when he runs onto the MCG to face Richmond.

Seven years since arriving at the club, Collingwood Media has compiled seven stories that make up the man in the No. 16.

The significance of number 10

The number 10 has proved successful for Brown in his seven years at the Westpac Centre.

The trend started before his career did. Prior to the 2006 Draft, Collingwood traded Chris Tarrant to Fremantle for pick eight and Paul Medhurst. This pick became 195cm defender and fellow country boy Ben Reid. The selection of Reid didn’t deter Collingwood from taking Brown just two players later with pick No. 10.

After stellar opening games against Matthew Pavlich, Jonathon Brown and Matthew Richardson, Brown was rewarded with an AFL Rising Star nomination following Collingwood’s 100-point thrashing of West Coast in round 10, 2008. He had 13 disposals but held West Coast’s Josh Kennedy to just one goal and eleven disposals.

Brown received an eleventh hour call up for the 2010 Grand Final after injury struck down first-choice fullback Simon Prestigiacomo. However, Brown’s performance against St Kilda star Nick Riewoldt proved to be one of the finest performances by a Collingwood full back.

Brotherly love

In most aspects, the Brown family was anything but divided. Nathan and twin brother Mitch starred in football and basketball together as they worked their way towards professional sporting careers.

Despite this harmony, AFL loyalties have always been a sticking point. Nathan was a Carlton supporter growing up, while brother Mitch barracked for Collingwood. When the time came for the Brown name to be called out at the 2006 draftit was Nathan who ended up at the Magpies, while Mitch headed across the country to become a West Coast Eagle.


Mitch Brown, twin of Nathan, in action against Collingwood's Jamie Elliott and Tim Broomhead.

There is hope yet of seeing the Brown brothers playing together once more. In 2012, Mitch told the Herald Sun, “since juniors I've played footy and basketball with Nath and I want to play at the highest level with him as well.”

Same name, different face

Two players with the same surname can often Brown prove a nightmare for commentators, journalists and fans alike.
 
In 2007, it got even more difficult. Nathan Brown was a highly-rated rookie trying to break into the Collingwood side.

Nathan Brown was a relentless 146-game defender for Melbourne. And Nathan Brown was a dual All-Australian forward playing for Richmond.

The three Browns crossed paths at different stages of their careers however all have forged successful careers. Now that all have reached 100 games, can we dare raise the question – who is the best Nathan Brown?


Melbourne's Nathan Brown played 146 games for Melbourne between 1998 and 2007.

The number 16

When Brown arrived at Collingwood and accepted number 16, he took it out of the hands of a 19-year-old Scott Pendlebury who decided to take up the recently vacated number 10.

Brown is the first Collingwood player to reach 100 games in the number 16 jumper since wingman Alan Atkinson reached the feat in 1976.

Mark Richardson played the first 31 games of his career in number 16 from 1991 to 1995, but wore number three for the rest of his 141 game career.

St Pats Ballarat

Brown spent his teenage years at a school that stakes a claim of being the most successful footballing school in Australia.

In 120 years, St. Patrick’s Ballarat has produced over 100 AFL players, including Brownlow Medallists Brian Gleeson and John James, Collingwood Hall of Fame member Des Tuddenham and fellow greats Barry Richardson (Richmond) and Danny Frawley (St Kilda).

Among current AFL players, the St Pats alumni includes Shaun Grigg (Richmond), Drew Petrie (North Melbourne), Jake Neade (Port Adelaide) and Brad Crouch (Adelaide). Brown can also discuss his old memories with fellow Magpie Clinton Young, who also attended the school.

September rollercoaster

Life was good for Nathan Brown in early September, 2010. The 21-year-old had strung together five consecutive games late in the season – with the last one being Collingwood’s 41-point Preliminary Final defeat of the Western Bulldogs.

But after managing just two disposals in the penultimate game of the final series, Brown was told in the latter stages of Grand Final week that he had been dropped for the decider.

The heartbreak lasted until the final hours before the opening bounce against St Kilda. Veteran fullback Simon Prestigiacomo sensationally pulled himself out of the game due to injury, clearing the path for Brown to play.

Brown walked away with a premiership medal and the rare achievement of being a late inclusion in a premiership team. Shane Kerrison was the last Magpie, and potentially the last man league-wide, to do so when he replaced Alan Richardson in the 1990 Premiership side.

Browny and Frosty

They seem like a duo that have been playing together for years, but Magpie defenders Nathan Brown and Jack Frost have only recently begun to work in tandem in Collingwood’s backline.

Prior to the commencement of this season, Brown and Frost had only played four games together. Two came in 2013 when Frost debuted in round one and later returned to the side in round three.

When injury struck down Brown in round two, 2014, Frost was there to take up the full backduties as he went on to play every game of the season.

With Brown returning to full fitness, the dangerous pair can now combine to limit the influence of opposition full forwards.