With several key-forwards waiting in the wings, the North big man knows he needs to do everything right to keep his place.
“I feel like I’m a part of the team but at the same time you’ve got guys behind you pushing for a spot,” Brown said at Blundstone Arena on Friday.
“That’s the thing about playing at AFL level; everyone on the list is a chance of playing games.
“You’ve got Majak Daw and Mason Wood and a few others pushing for my spot in the side. We’ve got to focus on playing our role every week and doing our best for the team. If I play my role properly that’s when I’ll keep my spot.”
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If Brown’s attitude is anything to go by, he's got a long career ahead. His opportunity came due to an injury to Robbie Tarrant, but his VFL form meant it only fast-tracked a looming debut.
“I don’t think anything is really luck, and I suppose I just decided that when I got to the club I was just going to put my foot down and try as hard as I could to make an AFL debut this year.
“Whether it was going to be this year or later on I believed I could do it, so I just did all the work and I just thought that it’d take care of itself from there whether I got a game or not.”
After a journey to the big time that saw him spend time at Devonport, the Mariners, Glenorchy and Werribee, Brown returns to his home state for the first time in North colours on Saturday.
“It’s great to get back to my roots and hopefully we can get a win tomorrow and make it a good trip back.
“Tassie footy has been really great for me along the road trying to eventually get to play AFL footy and that was obviously a massive stepping stone in my career, so I’m really happy to be back down here.
“The move over to Victoria was obviously a part of that as well, so I’ve had a lot of important people influence me along the journey and it’s great to get back here and see some of them again.”
While a win in front of a sell-out crowd would make the occasion extra special, the number 50 says the Saints’ lowly ladder position means nothing
“Tomorrow’s (Saturday) a really important game,” Brown added.
“We realise that it’s a danger game as well and if we’re not on our game then St Kilda can really come out and do some damage.
“Two weeks ago against Brisbane it showed us that if we are not switched on the result can go the other way. We’ve really got to be on our game tomorrow.”
