Collingwood father-son recruit Tyler Brown thrilled to join brother Callum at Magpies

COLLINGWOOD father-son recruit Tyler Brown says it was a huge relief to hear the Magpies match Port Adelaide’s bid on draft night, clearing him to officially join brother Callum in black and white.

COLLINGWOOD father-son recruit Tyler Brown can’t wait to start training with his new teammates after his dream to join the Magpies was realised in Friday night’s national draft.

Brown, the son of club great Gavin Brown and brother of emerging young Magpie Callum, was selected by Collingwood with pick No.50, matching a bid from Port Adelaide.

The 17-year-old was surrounded by family and friends at home as he watched the draft on TV, with his brother and father also watching on with great anticipation.

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The Brown household erupted with cheers as the Magpies matched the Power’s bid.

“I can’t believe it to be honest,” Brown said. “Growing up and dad playing for the club and seeing Cal get drafted last year, it’s been such a great experience so far.

“I can’t wait to get started.”

The Magpies had nominated Brown as a potential father-son recruit before the draft but did not promise it would match any bid for the slightly built 187cm midfielder.

Tyler Brown in action for the Eastern Ranges. Picture: Getty

Tyler Brown will join brother Callum at Collingwood. Picture: Getty

It made for a tough draft night but brother Callum had some advice to calm his nerves after going through the same process last year.

“Cal just said to really enjoy the experience because it’s only going to happen once,” he told the club’s website.

“I was just trying to get the most out of it.

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“I wasn’t too bad in the lead up, I was trying to stay pretty calm and just take every step as it comes.

“Whatever happened was going to happen.

“Port Adelaide bid and I wasn’t sure if Collingwood was going to match it but thank god they did to be honest.”

Tyler will now join his brother in the black and white, with Callum already back training for nearly a month ahead of his second AFL season.

Collingwood great Gavin Brown with daughter Tarni and sons Callum and Tyler at Victoria Park.

He can’t wait to have his brother officially join him at the Holden Centre this week.

“ ... We didn’t exactly know what was going to happen but we were obviously hopeful he was going to end up here,” Callum said.

“Me and Ty are pretty close, close in age and have the same sort of personality and stuff so it’ll be almost like having another mate down there, which will be pretty cool.”

Brown was one of three selections for Collingwood on Friday night, joining prized No.6 pick Jaidyn Stephenson and halfback Nathan Murphy.

Magpies recruiting boss Derek Hine is confident Brown can forge an AFL career but urged patience.

Callum Brown made his Collingwood debut on Queen’s Birthday this year. Picture: Getty

“Tyler is a very different player to Callum, who is a very inside player with his hands. Tyler is taller — above 185cm — he plays on a wing, he’s very well balanced and slides through traffic,” he told the club’s website.

“I’m not saying that he is an outside player, but he is not purely inside. He uses his hands really well and is really balanced in the way that he uses them.

“We would really like to see him use his feet a little bit more, actually, but he certainly shows the scope to become an AFL player, there’s no two ways about it.

“In Tyler’s case, it’s going to take a little bit longer than most because of his lack of development.

“He went to Marcellin, played in their premiership team, and finished at the school this year.

“Once he comes into the system, he will find his way. It will take him a little bit of time but we are really confident that he will be fine.”

Originally published as Collingwood father-son recruit Tyler Brown thrilled to join brother Callum at Magpies