Ben Brown is one of the best endurance athletes in the AFL

BEN Brown has run the equivalent of a marathon in his past three matches … and then some. SAM LANDSBERGER finds out how the Coleman Medal favourite became one of the best runners in the AFL.

Ben Brown is having a brilliant season for North Melbourne. Picture: Getty Images

BEN Brown has run the equivalent of a marathon in his past three matches … and then some.

The North Melbourne spearhead has clocked up 46.1kms on the GPS, ranking No. 1 for ground covered in every match.

In fact, you have to go back to Round 11 — when Brisbane’s Oscar McInerney clocked 16.5km — for Brown to be dislodged as the game’s top runner.

“At school I was always in the top couple at cross-country, but I was always dead last in the 100m sprint,” Brown told the Herald Sun.

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“I’ve always had that element of being more of an endurance-style athlete, rather than a sprinter.”

Since Round 13 last season, Brown has played 15 games where he has not come to the interchange bench.

It is that work-rate which adds another dimension to the goalkicking superstar Brown has become.

With Sam Gibson gone, the 200cm and 101kg Brown is the Kangaroos’ best runner.

Ben Brown is having a brilliant year for the Kangaroos. Picture: Getty Images

“It doesn’t necessarily mean I’m running to amazing spots or anything like that,” he said.

“The way I’ve always done it is I’ve tried to stay on the move. (My GPS) is normally around the 15km mark.”

The Coleman Medal favourite has slotted 46.17 this season and is targeted inside 50m more than any other player in the AFL.

Brown — who has interviewed Mike Sheahan for Open Ben on Fox Footy on Tuesday — said he takes 80-100 shots for goal at training every week, and even more in pre-season.

But Brown, 25, wasn’t fazed at the prospect of becoming North’s first Coleman winner since John Longmire (1990).

“I don’t think it really matters too much to me,” he said.

“It’s about a lot more than kicking goals and that’s what my teammates and my coach’s value. I’m focused on doing the best things by the team so we can be around come finals time, because we don’t want to be missing out on finals like we did last year.

“We want to give ourselves a real shot to win the premiership this year.”

Brown, who has turned vegan this year, holds a seven-goal lead on Buddy Franklin leading into Round 17 and North’s clash against Sydney at Etihad Stadium.

“People don’t believe me but I’ve said for ages he’s an unbelievable endurance athlete,” coach Brad Scott said.

“I remember speaking to my brother, who was coaching International Rules and wanted Ben Brown in the team, and the only concern was it’s a fast game.

“I said he’ll have no problem, because he’s an elite runner. Chris (Scott) and Ross (Lyon) were both surprised with his work-rate in that game and he just brings it at AFL level.

“Everyone sees the marking and goals but he’s invaluable on the defensive side as well.”

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