Brown became the third player with the
same name in the AFL when he was selected by Collingwood with the 10th selection in the 2006 National AFL Draft. Brown made his debut for Collingwood in Round 1 of the
2008 season against
Fremantle at the
Melbourne Cricket Ground in front of 45,000 fans. He immediately made impressions with speed and great defensive attributes against
Matthew Pavlich, who is recognised as one of the best forwards in the game, holding him to only one goal. He would follow up immediately, playing on one of the competition's best players,
Jonathan Brown of the
Brisbane Lions, and
Matthew Richardson of
Richmond in the next fortnight, holding each to two and one goal(s), respectively. Even though Brown was yet to make his senior debut, he was selected as the Collingwood alternative delegate for the
AFL Players Association in 2008, behind
Tarkyn Lockyer and
Nick Maxwell. Brown was nominated for the
AFL Rising Star Award for his performance in Round 10 2008 against the
West Coast Eagles in which
Collingwood won by 100 points. Brown won the Harry Collier Trophy (Best First Year Player) in 2008. Brown celebrated his 50th game in the
2010 AFL Grand Final replay. At the conclusion of the 2016 season, Brown joined the St Kilda Football Club as a
restricted free agent after Collingwood elected not to match the contract offer. In August 2018, Brown was sent straight to the
AFL Tribunal following a late bump on player
Adam Saad. He was suspended for three matches. == Post-AFL career ==