Tom Brown (Australian footballer)

Tom Brown (born 30 July 2003) is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the Richmond Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He was drafted by Richmond with the 17th pick in 2021 AFL draft and made his debut in round 24 of the 2023 season. He is the son of former AFL player Paul Brown and brother of Geelong and  AFLW player Millie Brown.

Early life and junior football
Brown grew up in the Victorian country town of Mooroopna and played junior football with the Mooroopna Football Netball Club.

As a teenager, Brown attended and played school football for Geelong Grammar School, as well as for the Murray Bushrangers in the NAB League. His final junior season was significantly interrupted by a serious mid-season syndesmosis ankle injury.

In the final days before the 2021 AFL draft, AFL Media and ESPN both projected Brown to be selected with the 18th pick.

AFL career
Brown was drafted by with the club's second pick and the 17th selection overall in the 2021 AFL national draft.

He failed to make an AFL debut in 2022, playing instead with the club's reserves side in the VFL.

Brown spent the early months of the 2023 season sidelined by a wrist fracture. He returned to football with 10 matches at VFL level, before being called up to make his AFL debut in the final round of the season.

Player profile
Brown plays as a medium defender, with a mix of skills including precise disposal at half-back. After being drafted at 186 centimetres tall, Brown grew seven centimetres over the next two years, transforming him from a rebounding half-back into an effective hybrid player.

Personal life
He is the son of former AFL player Paul Brown and brother of Geelong and  AFLW player Millie Brown.