AFL Trade Radio’s Mitch Cleary believes Ben Brown’s recent injury issues have been a focus of his recent meetings with Melbourne.
The 27-year-old is on the lookout for a new club after North Melbourne put him on the trade table, with the Dees currently leading the race to secure his services.
After a year which saw him cruelled by a persistent knee injury, Cleary said Melbourne has outlined to Brown how they will ensure he stays fit throughout next season.
“I was told that the Ben Brown meeting (at Melbourne) was centred around (fitness boss) Darren Burgess and what the Demons can do to help him with his fitness,” he said on AFL Trade Radio’s Trade Exchange.
“He wants to commit himself to everything over pre-season, this one looks like it’s a fair way down the path."
Callum Twomey said Brown would be a natural fit for a Melbourne side that has several up and coming forward targets in Sam Weideman and Luke Jackson, but are missing a mature-aged target inside 50.
“I think there’s genuine interest there,” he said.
“It’s about playing Ben Brown and using him to his strengths, I reckon the wide expanses of the MCG in a normal year would suit the way he can get up and down the ground.
“He’ll use his aerobic capacity to outwork opponents; I just don’t think that this year in any shape or form worked out well for Ben Brown and the way he was being prepared to play.
“It’s a good fit for Melbourne, it also means there’s no rush to push through Sam Weideman or Luke Jackson to be the focal point of their forward line.
“This is a guy who has kicked over 60 goals over three years, if you’re going to move Tom McDonald for him then you probably do that.”