Tom Brown was snapped up by Richmond with pick 17 in the first round of the 2021 AFL Draft on Wednesday night.
Drafted out of Mooroopna in the Goulburn Valley League, the dashing defender joins Echuca’s Clayton Oliver to be drafted out of the club in the opening round (Oliver went at pick four in 2015).
Brown had shot up draft boards in recent weeks, with phenomenal testing results at the recent Victoria Country Draft combine in Bendigo, backing up an incredibly consistent season for the Murray Bushrangers at NAB League level.
Brown is the third in his family to make it to the elite level, joining dad Paul and older sister Millie.
The former, who was recruited out of Echuca, played 84 games with Geelong between 1990 and 1998.
A defender like her brother, Millie, 20, joined Paul in going to Geelong, selected under the father-daughter rule in the 2019 AFL Women’s Draft.
The father-daughter rule differs to the father-son rule, with only one game required for a daughter to be drafted to their father’s club.
A son’s eligibility is based on 100 games.
In July, Millie was placed on the inactive list for the upcoming 2022 AFL Women’s season, with the club announcing she would "take a break from football".