VAFA: Nathan Brown back at Old Melburnians as coach

Old Melburnians hasn’t played finals since Nathan Brown coached six years ago, and now he’s back. He talks about his return, OMs’ list changes and the possibility of Tom Hawkins playing for the club.

Nathan Brown coaching Old Melburnians. Picture: Valeriu Campan

If anyone has the formula for success at Old Melburnians, it’s Nathan Brown.

The ex-AFL Demon steered OMs to the VAFA top-flight during a 150-game, eight-year stint at the helm from 2012-19.

Now, he’s back to do it all again, appointed Old Melburnians coach for 2025.

“I’ve still got the energy, I’m still up and about,” Brown said.

“I’m really interested in seeing this next stint at OMs with a whole new group of kids whether they can start winning again because I don’t think they’ve played finals since I was last there. We got out of B grade into A grade. A grade is so hard, mate, we’ve been up there for a long time, it’s just relentless.”

Old Melburnians faces a new challenge in 2025; the OMs are back in Premier B after being relegated from the VAFA’s top flight after a four-win 2024.

There’s speculation retired Geelong champion Tom Hawkins will play at Old Melburnians.

The Tomahawk attended Melbourne Grammar — Old Melburnians’ affiliate — and he has floated the idea of having a kick at OMs in ‘25.

Hawkins is also rumoured to be playing a game for Finley — his home town — on Good Friday.

Tom Hawkins. Pic: Michael Klein

Brown’s return to Old Melburnians was by chance.

He was initially planning to do some coaching in the VFL after finishing up as coach of Old Geelong last season.

But when the VFL role didn’t eventuate, and OMs needed a new coach, Brown jumped at the chance to return to Elsternwick Park.

“I had a really good time at Old Geelong, it was always just going to be a couple of years and I was going to hand over and potentially look at doing some VFL stuff,” Brown said.

“But it (the VFL opportunity) fell over. So then I was scrambling around for a club. I knew OMs was a good club and they were looking for a coach so it was just a good fit. It was really simple as that.”

Old Melburnians has lost best and fairest winner Ben Harding (to Leongatha) and also ex-AFL player Jarrod Lienert.

Also, Will Nichols and Charlie McKay are heading overseas.

Brown said he likes what he sees at pre-season training.

“There’s a lot of young talent mixed in with the senior boys,” he said.

Nathan Brown with the ball as St Kilda’s Stephen Milne tackles in 2003.

Brown played 146 games for Melbourne as a dogged defender between 1998-2007 and was runner-up in the Demons’ best and fairest in 2004.

He’s experienced most things in footy which he says has helped his coaching.

“The thing with local footy it’s almost like a hobby,’’ he said.

“You’re still working flat out, work never ends and work is first and foremost, but this is just an unreal release.

“And the beautiful thing about coaching is it’s not about you, it’s about everyone else which is unreal.

“I try and have fun with it, and not sweat the little stuff, and you can’t at this level because there’s lots of little stuff that comes at you.’’

Brown’s eldest son, Kynan, 20, made his AFL debut with Melbourne last season.

OLD MELBURNIANS

IN:

OUT: Robbie Morrison (Penguin, Tasmania), Ben Harding (Leongatha), Jarrod Lienert.