SINCE joining the Demons at the end of the 2020 season, Ben Brown has played 18 games in the red and blue.
During that time, the key forward has a 16-1-1 record, including a premiership last September.
Entering a fresh season in 2022, Melbourne has put in the ground work to sit atop of the ladder after eight rounds, and Brown has a simple explanation for the success.
“The standard at training that was on show when I got to the club really pushed me along,” Brown said after his side’s win over the Saints.
“We push each other along at Melbourne.
“That sounds really simple, but it is at times easy to go through the motions as a player.
“I think that’s a great thing about being at the Melbourne Footy Club is that we push each other.”
And with pressure on at the selection table, that internal drive will continue.
“Spots are at a premium,” he said.
“We’ve probably got the four of us vying for three spots really.”
For the past two seasons, Brown has been battling with Luke Jackson, Tom McDonald and Sam Weideman for a position in the starting 22.
While the lack of job security is hard for the individuals, the constant pressure to perform has created a positive environment for the Dees.
“I think that is a good thing about being at this club,” Brown said.
“We do know that those places are limited so you have got to keep on pushing each other.
“I know that Sam was flat about not playing this week, but the kind of character he is I have got no doubt he’ll go back to the VFL, put in some solid efforts and we’ll have to keep performing to keep our spots in the side.”
