Callum Brown (footballer, born 2000)

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. 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.

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

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.

Brown spent three years developing in the club's reserve side in the NEAFL 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.

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. He was offered a one-year contract extension in August 2022.