Callum Brown (footballer, born 2000) explained

Callum Brown
Birth Date:15 July 2000
Birth Place:Luton, England, United Kingdom
Originalteam:Derry GAA, Northern Ireland
Draftpick:Rookie 2018 national draft
Debutdate:29 May 2021
Debutstadium:Gabba
Height:188 cm
Weight:95 kg
Position:Forward
Guernsey:46
Years1:2021–
Games Goals1:39 (42)
Statsend:round 14, 2024

Callum M. Brown (born 15 August 2000) is an Australian rules footballer who plays for the Greater Western Sydney Giants in the Australian Football League (AFL).

Early life

Callum M. Brown was born in Luton, England to English mother Dee and Jamaican father Trevor.[1] [2] He grew up playing soccer which he excelled in. At the age of five he moved to Limavady in Northern Ireland where he played soccer and rugby union. A friend spotted him playing soccer and encouraged him to try gaelic football.[3]

Gaelic football

Brown first made the Derry GAA underage representative squad at the age of 14.[4] He reached the All-Ireland minor final in 2017 with Derry and played for Derry's Under 20 side in 2018.[5]

Switch to Australian rules football

Brown was identified as an AFL prospect from as early as age 14, when he was coached by former Northern Ireland AFL recruit Chrissy McKaigue. In 2018 Nick Walsh, Jason McCartney and Heath Shaw travelled to Ireland to entice 18 year old Brown to move to Australia to play for the Giants in the AFL, signing him as an international rookie through the 2018 AFL draft.[6]

Brown spent three years developing in the club's reserve side in the NEAFL[7] and later the Victorian Football League before a series of consistent performances earned his call up to the senior side in 2021.

AFL career

Brown was selected as a medical sub against the Brisbane Lions at the Brisbane Cricket Ground in round 11 on 29 May 2021, however he wasn't given any game time and was subsequently dropped. It wasn't until round 21 against the Geelong Football Club that he played a full game, kicking a respectable 2 goals from 4 kicks.[8]

As a Category B rookie, Brown spent much of the 2022 season as a medical substitute. With limited opportunities in the way of game time, Brown began to talk about returning to Ireland. However in a Round 16 home game against Hawthorn, Brown, replacing an injured Lachlan Keeffe, kicked a career record 4 goals being named among the best afield.[9] [10] He was offered a one-year contract extension in August 2022.

Notes and References

  1. https://www.bbc.com/sport/northern-ireland/53127380 Callum Brown: Limavady lad's racism rethink as he forges Aussie Rules career
  2. https://www.irishnews.com/sport/gaafootball/2020/03/26/news/callum-brown-2-1879039/ 'My mindset is just to mess my man up - do whatever it takes to show I'm better than him'
  3. https://www.the42.ie/callum-brown-gws-giants-derry-5834096-Aug2022/ 'I've had talks about going home to Derry but I still want to show I can dominate in the AFL'
  4. https://www.gwsgiants.com.au/news/1023431/brown-eager-to-forge-own-path Brown Eager to Forge Own Path Irishman Callum Brown wants to tread his own path in the AFL.
  5. https://www.the42.ie/callum-brown-derry-afl-new-deal-gws-giants-5839618-Aug2022/ Former Derry footballer agrees new AFL deal with Greater Western Sydney Giants
  6. https://www.gwsgiants.com.au/news/946270/brown-to-debut From Limavady to the Gabba
  7. https://www.gwsgiants.com.au/news/249013/irish-brown-happy-chasing-his-afl-dream Irish Brown Happy Chasing His AFL Dream
  8. https://www.gwsgiants.com.au/players/1808/callum-m-brown#playerstatistics GWS Player Statistics Callum M Brown
  9. https://www.afl.com.au/afl/matches/3935#match-report Improving Giants take down Hawks in wet slog
  10. https://canberraweekly.com.au/callum-brown-boots-giants-to-afl-win-over-hawks/ Callum Brown boots Giants to AFL win over Hawks