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DOB: 14/08/1976
Height: 175cms
Weight: 73kgs
Guernsey: 13
Nathan Brown has returned to Broadspectrum Oval for season 2008 after a distinguished AFL career with the Melbourne Football Club. Retiring AFL footballers with more to give to the game are faced with many offers at such a time and a number of factors have to be considered before they make a final decision about their football future.
To Nathan Brown, however, there was just one over-riding principle that made his decision an easy one. “I wanted to finish my football with a team that I really wanted to play for and that I had an emotional attachment to. It’s the only reason to continue to play – being at a Club where it would mean more and that club was always going to be West Adelaide.”
Bloods’ supporters understand this. We have a proud record in producing AFL footballers and so many great players have started their senior football career in the red and black jumper, but we’ve shared a special pride at Nathan’s achievements with Melbourne, not just for his football ability, but also because of the way he plays the game. That shared pride and respect made it an easy decision to appoint him captain of the West Adelaide Football Club for 2008.
Although Nathan was born in Hastings in Victoria, his early football depended on where his father, serving in the Navy, was posted at any particular time. A premiership player as early as the Under 9’s at Modbury , Nathan soon found himself more settled with his family at Pinnaroo, where he played throughout his junior years with the local football team. As often happens in country football, he worked his way to senior football with the local ‘A’ grade team while still eligible for colts’ football and it wasn’t long before he and two mates ventured to Adelaide to try their luck in the city football scene.
Football in Adelaide meant playing for West Adelaide Under 19’s, and although very lightly framed, his football talent, running ability and willingness to work saw him win the Under 19’s Best and Fairest that year, even after a late start to the season where he combined senior football at Pinnaroo with his Under 19 commitments. The next pre-season had him training with a large squad competing for a place on the senior list for the 1996 season. There was no place on that list for Nathan Brown, but although he continued to train and played in the trial games, there was still no vacancy in West’s reserves` team for him in Round 1. Perseverance saw him selected in Coach Leon Grosser’s team for the game against North at Prospect, the start of a season that finished with a team Best and Fairest and runner-up in the Reserves Magarey Medal.
West Adelaide’s league team played its last game that season against Port Adelaide at Football Park. Making his league debut was a young Nathan Brown and the game left an impression. “It was awesome. There was a 10,000 crowd, Warren Tredrea was playing for Port and I loved it”.
Coach Michael Taylor had no hesitation in selecting him in his first team of season 1997 and although he missed a few games with injury, Nathan was a regular league player. “It was a step up, much faster, but I enjoyed every minute”. West supporters embraced Nathan’s fearless, ebullient approach to the game and he quickly became a crowd favourite. The experts also recognized his talent, West’s Match Committee rewarding him with third in the Best and Fairest in his first season and ‘The Advertiser’ football writers selecting him in their SANFL Team of the Year.
The boy from Pinnaroo was soon receiving letters from several AFL managers and speaking to AFL clubs. Attendance at the National Draft Camp followed and it wasn’t long before supporters of the Melbourne Football Club started scouring web sites to find out who their new draftee was. Life in the AFL system got off to a difficult start, with a constant battle against soft tissue injuries restricting his progress. Spending most of his first pre-season in and out of the rehab program led to a season mainly playing for Melbourne’s Reserves team. It was typical of his attitude that his recollection of that time was that “it was sensational, playing for the one club at their Reserves level”.
His AFL debut, under Coach Neale Daniher, came in Round 4 of that 1998 season, in front of a packed house at Optus Oval. Hamstring problems again soon interrupted his progress and the next 2 or 3 years saw him in and out of the side due to recurrent injury problems that threatened to cut his AFL career short. He had performed well when available, but he hadn’t been available enough and he was sent to the Australian Institute of Sport. Effectively, this was clearly a last attempt to see if it was worth persevering with him as an AFL footballer.
There are rarely any miracle cures for recurrent football injuries and under the direction of the AIS physio, Craig Purdam, Nathan commenced a comprehensive program of leg muscle strengthening exercises. No miracles, but plenty of hard work followed and, in retrospect, it turned out to be the turning point of his AFL career. Season 2000 saw him in good form and playing regularly. He was in peak form in a strong display in Round 19, until he suffered a massive concussion late in the game, which saw him in hospital for a week. Naturally, that was the end of his season, but it was only a temporary setback. His good form continued through season 2001 and he soon established his position as a regular senior member of the Demons team, often linking up with former West Adelaide team-mate Peter Walsh in starting attacks from the Melbourne defence.
Football is a team game and it doesn’t surprise fans who have followed Nathan’s career that his individual awards over the next several seasons with Melbourne include “Best Club Man”, “Most Consistent” and the like. Those who watched his skill aren’t surprised that he was also regularly in the top 10 Club Best and Fairest, with a second in 2004 and a fourth in 2002. By the end of the 2006 season, he was universally recognized in the football world as a skilful, attacking defender and he played finals football again that year. Although again in the top 10 Best & Fairest at the end of 2007, he could see the changes at his football club. His long-time coach was going and the list was being rejuvenated. As far as Melbourne and his coaches were concerned, he was still a required player, but after 146 games he made his own decision to finish his AFL career while still playing well.
Nathan, you had to overcome adversity at different times in your career. What support did you look for at those times.
“Well, first I have an unbelievable family. Mum and Dad have always been great and growing up and playing sport with my two older brothers helped toughen me up. My sister is also an excellent sportsperson and the family support has meant so much. I was also very lucky to have Paul Conners as my Manager. He’s a great friend and has been a big influence in helping me set my life up. To me, he’s a legend. And my wife has been there the whole ride with me through thick and thin. We’ve been together 14 years.”
What was it like when you first came to Westies?
“I loved it, but it was made easier for me because I worked with Michael Taylor and Tim Symes and they helped me settle in.”
And your first impressions of AFL football?
“It was unbelievable. I was suddenly playing for Melbourne with players such as Gary Lyon, Jim Stynes, David Neitz, Brett Lovett, Stephen Tingay and so many other greats and being coached by Neale Daniher. It was really surreal being amongst players of that calibre.”
And coming back to Westies and being named Captain?
I’m rapt. I just wanted to come back and play and be a leader and a contributor. I wasn’t looking at the captaincy, but it’s a great honour and I’m very proud to be a part of developing our young list. Andy has been super for the Club and we’re really enthusiastic about the season ahead. We’ve been training well, we’ll be fit and we’ll be hopefully more competitive as we learn from Andy and each other. I just hope to give a little bit back however long I last.”
And finally, what about outside football?
Well, I spend as much time as possible with my wife Tamara and 3year old Kynan and Jake, who’s one. I like all sport and Tamara and I are really enjoying spending our spare time on home renovations. As for work, I’m a Development Officer with the SANFL.
It’s rare for an AFL game to be played where West supporters don’t see one of their former players in action.
Melbourne games always had that bit more interest for them because of the chance to see Nathan Brown playing and to therefore see a footballer play not only with skill and passion for the jumper, but with a tangible and obvious joy for the game.
We’re fortunate that we’ll see that skill and enthusiasm at Broadspectrum Oval again this season.
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