Montmorency signs former Collingwood father-son, VFL Team of the Year gun

Northern league power Montmorency has signed a former Collingwood father-son and current VFL Team of the Year gun for 2024.

Callum Brown at Collingwood training. Picture: Michael Klein

Montmorency is hoping to put Callum Brown back in black and white stripes.

The NFNL Division 1 power signed the former Collingwood father-son and current Box Hill and VFL Team of the Year gun for 2024.

While he remains committed to the Hawks, the Magpies hope to see him if there’s a VFL bye and take advantage of his experience and class with the club’s youngsters.

Brown played 70 games for Collingwood, where his father Gavin was club captain, before being delisted in 2022 and joining Box Hill.

He played 21 of 22 VFL games, averaging 29 disposals, to earn the Hawks’ best-and-fairest and Team of the Year honours at halfback.

The 25-year-old was aligned to VAFA club and high school old boys Marcellin this year.

Montmorency coach Nick Rutley said, having seen him in opposition, it would be a pleasure to coach him.

“When I coached at Willy we coached against him and had to put a lot of time into him because he’d just accumulate possessions and set them up off halfback,” Rutley said.

“If we’re lucky enough to get him (for games) we’ll be very grateful.

“As I say to all our listed boys, not just VFL but also Northern Knights, that should be your priority and if we can accommodate you on a bye or coming back from an injury we’ll do that.

“There’s a couple of VFL-listed guys at the club that Cal knows and a couple our board members and executives have connections.

“It was a simple phone call, I think it was a pretty easy decision, he was looking for somewhere else.

“He’s in a different bracket, it could be a really strong relationship we build with him and when he decides to end his VFL career, whenever that might be, we might get him full-time.”

Rutley will be looking to build on last season’s second place home-and-away finish but improve on a straight sets finals exit.

Montmorency has secured the signing of star midfielder Nash Holmes.

The Port Melbourne VFL mainstay will be full-time at Montmorency Park, crossing from EDFL Division 1 premier Deer Park where he won the grand final medal this season.

The Magpies have lost star ruckman Liam Wale-Buxton (Sorrento), while Kyle Kakaanpaa (Diamond Creek), VFL-listed forward Liam McMahon and Jaden Collins (Eltham) have also departed.

Former Western Bulldog Mitch Honeychurch is weighting up his playing future.

After rupturing his ACL this year, Jake Spencer has called time on his playing career but will remain at Montmorency as an assistant.

Spencer and Diamond Valley/Northern league games record holder Daniel Keenan will look after the midfield.

Former Northern Knights Girls coach and Western Bulldogs AFLW assistant Marcus Abney-Hastings and revered Adelaide Crows scout and recruiter Steve McCrystal have also joined the coaching panel.

“Jake’s such a well respected person and has a great repour with a lot of the young people, everyone around the club really,” Rutley said.

“Bomber will support him and playing more than 400 games I think he’s got a pretty good CV.

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“I did my Level 3 with Marcus and coached in the women’s space as well, so we’ve swum in similar circles, and being a Greensborough resident I wanted to see where he was at.

“He wanted to get his toe back into footy and we’ve got a role for him that will help him scratch that itch, I can’t wait to work with him.

“Steve will still do a little bit of part-time recruiting work for Adelaide, he’s been with the Crows for 30 years.

“He’s moved back to Ivanhoe and just wants to be involved, he’s got a soft spot for Montmorency and I couldn’t believe my luck.”