How could I forget watching this big, tall kid with boofy hair kicking four goals to single-handedly turn a final? It was back in 2014 when I first saw the number 50 dominating a helpless Essendon defence in the Elimination Final.

He didn’t look like a footballer at the time, but he sure played like one.

His incredible reach, his athletic jump and sound goal-kicking action was extremely unique, yet effective. So, when I decided to make the move to Arden Street, I couldn’t wait to work with him.

The first thing I noticed with Ben Brown was his meticulous and precise training habits, which is rare - you don’t come across footballers like him too often.

He was so enthusiastic about his craft, which in-turn, made me a lot more enthusiastic too.

Sure his run-up is long and a little bit different, but it works ... I find it so confusing when people criticise or question the approach. 

We’ve all gone to training and spent time on our goal-kicking, but with Browny, every shot he takes, he does the exact same routine and we see him reaping the rewards of his hard work.

He would spend a good ten to 15 minutes walking back to his mark and going through his routine each session, but it's easy to see why. It works.

You don’t reach 100 games by chance or by luck; Browny puts as much work into his game off the field as he does on it.

He spends countless hours studying his own game and opponents, then devotes as much time to making sure his body is in the best possible condition it can be.

For the four seasons I was at the club, I don’t think he got through a full pre-season for whatever reason. But he had such a good relationship with all the fitness staff and dieticians who help him dominate come Round 1. There's little wonder he's been near the top of the Coleman Medal the past two seasons.

As a young player coming in, all you want to see is the way the very best players prepare, and I think any draftee coming to the club respects Browny's body of work. 

One of my favourite memories of playing with Benny was down in Hobart, because every time he’d kick a goal he would get that excited.

He just loves footy, and while we used to rib him about his celebrations, we’d love them because he would always dominate in front of his home crowd.

Off the field, he’s a very sensible and well balanced person.

Anyone who’s met him, whether it’s teammates, staff or fans, would agree, because he is always smiling, he’s so generous with his time and he wouldn’t say a bad thing about anyone.

He and Hester have just given birth to his first child, and he does so much work with the Huddle, charities and the AFLW side, which I think really helps him come game day.

In the past few years I feel as though he’s really found his voice, and really taken it to a new level. He’s a lot more confident in speaking up, and I honestly wouldn’t be surprised to see him in the leadership group in the years to come.

So in the lead-up to this weekend, it will be the perfect time for Browny and his family to reflect on the journey he’s been on to get where he is today.

He was overlooked constantly in drafts and was eventually forced leave his home at a young age to make the move to Werribee, all in order to give himself the best chance at making his dream a reality.

While this is a great milestone for Browny, I feel as though this is only the beginning.

He came third in the Coleman Medal in 2017, then second last year, so it’s not as though he’s limped to 100 games.

With the way he prepares and handles himself, I give him every chance to make it to 200, which would be great, because he’s really earned them.

Well done, Browny.
Waitey.