In a year of changing roles and growing responsibilities, one which stands out is the bigger role Ben Brown has taken in the forward line.

Now in his fourth season, Brown has become the focal point and main target when North brings the ball inside the forward 50.

How often Ben Brown has been the inside 50 target

2014: 5 times per game
2015: 4.7 times per game
2016: 6.4 times per game
2017: 11.1 times per game

Now often taking the opposition’s best defender, Brown has thrived under the pressure this season, averaging almost three goals a game.

However, he has played down his accomplishments, noting part of it has been due to circumstance.

“We’ve all done our jobs,” Brown told foxfooty.com.au.

“It’s probably meant that I’ve had to play a little bit deeper and be a target a little bit more.

“But Jarrad Waite’s been out of the side for the majority of the year, Mason Wood has been in and out as well, so once we’ve got those guys there it’ll take a little bit of the weight off me.

“We have guys like Taylor Garner as well — he’s a ripping mark of the footy — so it means I don’t always have to always fly, which is nice.”

The presence of Waite has been another key cog to how the North forward line functions. It’s no coincidence Brown was able to find space at the MCG while the number 30 roamed around the forward half.

“It doesn’t matter what Jarrad does on game day as far as scoreboard output, it’s his defensive pressure and him bringing it to ground that matters,” Brown said.

“When he does get the opportunity, he finishes off well, so it’s good to have him back in the side.”

Brown’s importance to North can’t be undersold. Since his debut midway through 2014, he has missed six matches, with the Roos coming out on the losing end in all six.

When the 24-year-old has performed on the field, it’s invariably led to a North win, with victories on five of the seven occasions he’s kicked four or more goals.

One of those instances was on Sunday against the Demons. Brown kicked five as North steadied in the face of a Melbourne challenge and won by 14 points.

“The way we shut it down in the last few minutes and managed to come away with a solid win, it’s really satisfying for us,” he said.

“We’ve obviously had a few difficulties down the stretch in the past, so it was good to get over the line and get the win.

“We’ve shown patches this year of really good, solid football and that we can match it with anyone.

“But we haven’t managed to put it together for four quarters and we’ve probably shot ourselves in the foot towards the end of some last quarters.

“To get a win on Sunday that was really solid, we’re really happy with it.”