Former Melbourne player Ray Biffin says his grandson and Essendon youngster Noah Gown was nearly lost to football.
Gown, who was taken with pick 60 in the 2018 National Draft, was originally eyeing a career overseas playing basketball before swiftly turning his attention to football.
Biffin urged the Bombers to be patient with the 20-year-old key forward, who is yet to make his debut in the red and black.
“When he got (given) number (32), he rang me and said he was very proud of the fact that the club thought highly enough of him to give him Tim (Watson’s) number,” Biffin said on SEN Breakfast.
“He basically played football at the last minute, we were thinking he was going to go to America to play basketball and then at the last minute he decided to have a crack at footy.
“He got an opportunity through Gippsland Power and had a reasonable season. I thought for him to get drafted, he would have to be drafted by a side who were prepared to work with him for two or three years because of the fact he’s played very limited footballer and played basketball for most of his career.
‘He’s done OK, he’s at a level when he’s capable of taking the next step. He’s had a couple of bad injuries to his foot … if (the season) gets back to playing in June then he’ll probably be ready to play.
“He’s got a lot of ability and he’s got a chance.”
Gown excelled at VFL level in 2019, kicking 17 goals from 12 games despite battling injury.
You can listen to Ray Biffin on SEN Breakfast in the player below