Two years ago the big man was playing for Glenorchy in the Tasmanian State League - now he's travelling with his new team-mates as part of North Melbourne's first-year camp.
“It couldn't have worked out any better for me,” Brown told the media at New Town High School on Monday.
“I think I fit in the club really well and they’re all a great bunch of blokes. It’s been really enjoyable so far and to have that Tassie link is really good.”
Despite his excitement, Brown admits the workload required of an AFL player has taken some getting used to.
“You don’t realise before you get in the system just how much hard work it is. It’s the long days.
“People from outside see the players running around on the weekend but there’s so much preparation that goes into it – and especially in pre-season in trying to get everything out of your body.”
The former Werribee Tiger has also had to deal with a minor foot injury. But with a sense of good timing, he was able to increase his workload on his first day in Hobart.
“I should be right by the time the season starts,” he added.
“It’s really exciting to feel my body starting to come together properly. It’s something I couldn’t do when I was at university five days a week, so to have it as a full-time occupation is great.”
Slightly interrupted pre-season aside, Brown is keeping his goals high while retaining an impressive sense of maturity.
“I’ve said to myself all the time, the sky is the limit (in 2014).
“I suppose with the injury, I have to keep tabs on where my expectations are at and also where the club expects me to be. I think it’s realistic to believe I can play (senior) footy this year, and that’s what I’ll be striving for.
“But at the same time, I have to look at it realistically and see there are a lot of players ahead of me currently. You’re competing with guys like Drew Petrie and Aaron Black for a spot. It’s a club that’s really on the up and I think we can really push this year.
“It’s going to be a hard side to crack into.”
Being able to play both forward and in the ruck gives Brown an extra string to his bow, something he’s keen to take advantage of.
“I’ve been a ruckman basically my whole life right through Tassie, so I suppose while I’m mainly a key forward now, playing that extra ruck role…it’s something I can add to the team.”
Tuesday will see the players go mountain biking before heading out to Swansea to hold a kids clinic.
