North Melbourne gives Werribee's Ben Brown the ultimate birthday present

BEN Brown celebrated his 21st birthday on Wednesday, but North Melbourne handed the 199cm big man a memorable gift the following night.

AFL draftee Ben Brown.

BEN Brown celebrated his 21st birthday on Wednesday but by far his most exciting gift this year was getting picked up in the AFL National Draft the following night.

North Melbourne took the 199cm player with pick 47 in Thursday's draft after he starred for Werribee in his first season in the VFL this year.

Brown crossed to the Tigers from Tasmanian State League outfit Glenorchy and finished with 29 goals while filling roles in the ruck and up forward.

He said he "sat there stunned" when his name was read out.

"I just didn't really know what to do. My mum, my grandma and my grandma's two sisters were here, so they got up and were screaming and yelling. I just sat there and took it in," Brown told Leader after the draft.

"I'm just ecstatic and really happy that everything's worked out. Sitting there, and I've been three the three national drafts and three rookie drafts before, the heart started to pound a bit when the picks started coming through.

"I told myself to hope and not expect the whole time, and that's what I tried to do, but once the names start coming out, you can't help but get nervous. It's happened a few years running now, but it wasn't any easier this year."

Brown lives a drop punt from Avalon Airport Oval, but watched the draft from his home state of Tasmania and will start at North Melbourne this week. He will still play for Werribee when not selected in the AFL side because of the alignment.

Most clubs showed interest in Brown after the nephew of former Collingwood and Fitzroy player James Manson displayed a strong marking ability and a tireless work ethic.

"I worked a fair bit with some of the North boys, I know them pretty well," Brown said.

"North Melbourne is such a great club with a great history, so I can't wait to get into it."

Brown was dropped after Werribee's Round 2 loss against Northern Blues, but once he adjusted to his new competition, he delivered in spades.

"It's one of those lessons that should be taken on board by the majority of players coming in to a VFL environment that if at first you don't succeed, you keep persevering," Tigers football manager Stuart Balloch said.

"He's one of those players who was seeking out coaches to find areas for improvement. He certainly did everything to prepare himself right for playing against AFL players."

Brown is pleased his move resulted in the ultimate reward.

"It was a massive move and I did put a lot of time and thought into it, but obviously really happy I did now. It's all paid off at the end of the day and I couldn't be happier," he said.

"Probably pretty close to the best present I've ever had. It's pretty incredible."