North Melbourne keen to extend Ben Brown’s contract before it expires at end of 2018

EMERGING North Melbourne star Ben Brown is set to start talks with the club on a contract extension, with the Kangaroos keen to lock him in before his deal expires at the end of next year.

North Melbourne is keen to extend Ben Brown’s contract. Picture: Getty

FOOTBALL’S new cult hero Ben Brown is about to start talks on a lucrative contract reflecting his extraordinary rise to stardom.

Brown’s 51 goals puts him only two behind Coleman Medal leader Joe Daniher (53), with Brown’s 51.23 the most accurate of the league’s top 10 goalscorers.

His current two-year contract extension runs out at the end of 2018 but North Melbourne is eager to extend his deal long-term.

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They have had preliminary discussions with his management and will ramp up that dialogue in coming weeks.

North Melbourne confirmed to the Herald Sun on Tuesday night their determination to lock him away at a time when many clubs are scouting available key forwards.

His current deal would have incentive clauses for best-and-fairest results and games played but not specific goals tallies.

North Melbourne is keen to extend Ben Brown’s contract. Picture: Getty

He would likely trail only Shaun Higgins in the Roos’ best-and-fairest award, with Ben Cunnington also having a consistent season.

The 24-year-old is the full package — a contested marking, straight-kicking forward who has this year thrived despite playing on the opposition’s best defender.

As a Tasmanian boy he is the perfect link to the club’s ties in that state and with his shock of red hair has proved immensely popular with fans.

In the narrow loss to Essendon two weeks ago Brown ran a remarkable 16km, more than any other Kangaroos player.

Dual Kangaroos premiership player David King said on Tuesday Brown would deserve a contract of at least $700,000 a year in future seasons.

“This guy is going to be in Coleman Medal contention multiple times in the next six to eight years,” he said.

Ben Brown is having an outstanding season, with his marking a feature. Picture: Michael Klein

Key forwards who can take contested marks are worth their weight in gold. Picture: Michael Klein

“And that comes with the price tag of minimum $700,000 plus. No player in the game gets bigger at the ball than Brown and Josh Kennedy.

“When the ball arrives he is a massive presence — hands extended, chest always square to the contest, always big at the ball.”

Brown has kicked 10 goals in the past two weeks, the Glenorchy tall improving every season after being taken at pick 47 in the 2013 draft after a stint with Werribee.

He had kicked tallies of 18, 32 and 41 leading into 2017, including four goals in the 2014 elimination finals win over Essendon.

The Roos have a chance to continue their late-season momentum with games against Collingwood, Hawthorn, St Kilda and Brisbane.

But ex-Collingwood defender Marley Williams has been ruled out for the year, needing back and shoulder surgery after a strong first season.

Sam Wright has not played an AFL game this year and he won’t after being ruled out for the rest of the season. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

Jarrad Waite will miss at least two weeks with his latest calf injury, his latest soft-tissue injury frustrating attempts to secure another contract.

His best football has been exceptional this year but it his second calf injury in the past month.

And Sam Wright has finally been shut down for the year after only four VFL games battling foot and ankle issues.

Kangaroos football boss Cameron Joyce said Williams needed back surgery but also would have surgery on a shoulder injury carried since Round 7.

“Over the past six weeks, we’ve tried numerous non-surgical treatments for Marley but without the desired results,” Joyce he said.

“The last resort was and always has been surgery, but unfortunately we’ve run out of time to get Marley back before the end of the year and will now focus on getting him right for the 2018 pre-season.”