Tarni Brown (born 26 March 2002) is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for Carlton in the AFL Women's (AFLW). Daughter of 1994–1998 former Collingwood captain, Gavin Brown, she played for the Eastern Ranges in the NAB League Girls before she was drafted to Collingwood in 2020 under the father–daughter rule. During the trade period ahead of the 2024 season, she joined Carlton.

Tarni Brown
Personal information
Full name Tarni Brown
Date of birth (2002-03-26) 26 March 2002 (age 22)
Original team(s) Eastern Ranges (NAB League Girls)
Draft No. 19, 2020 national draft (F/D)
Debut Round 1, 2021, Collingwood vs. Carlton, at Ikon Park
Height 166 cm (5 ft 5 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Club information
Current club Carlton
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2021–2023 Collingwood 34 (9)
2024– Carlton 00 (0)
Total 34 (9)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of the 2023 season.
Career highlights
Source: AustralianFootball.com

Early life and state football

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Brown started her sporting career playing basketball. She played for Nunawading Spectres in the Melbourne United Victorian Junior Basketball League (MUVJBL) Under 18 Girls competition, making 19 appearances.[1][2][3]

Brown started playing football only at the age of 14, starting out with her local club Donvale.[4] The next year, she joined Eastern Ranges in the NAB League Girls and played for them for three seasons.[5] In the 2019 season, playing as a tough midfielder, she averaged five tackles per game over 10 games for Eastern Ranges and was then selected for the 2020 AFL Women's (AFLW) academy, a nine month program involving camps and training with the AFLW clubs.[6][7] For the 2020 season, she was also included in Eastern Ranges' leadership group.[8]

AFLW career

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Brown was drafted to Collingwood with the 19th pick of the 2020 AFL Women's draft, which was Collingwood's first pick, under the father–daughter rule.[9][10] She received the number 26 guernsey, like her father.[11] Brown played in her first official hit-out in the first practice match of the season, playing against North Melbourne at Ikon Park.[12] Less than two weeks later, she made her debut in the first match of the 2021 AFL Women's season against Carlton at Ikon Park.[13] In round 6 of the season, Brown received a nomination for the 2021 AFL Women's Rising Star award, after collecting 15 disposals, taking four marks, and scoring a goal against the Western Bulldogs.[14] It was revealed Brown had signed on with Collingwood for two years on 10 June 2021.[15] In March 2023, Brown signed a new two-year deal until the end of the 2024 AFL Women's season.[16]

A year later, halfway through her latest contract, Brown was traded to Carlton in a four-way trade, with Annie Lee joining Collingwood in exchange.[17]

Personal life

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Brown is the daughter of former Collingwood captain, Gavin Brown, and the younger sister of Callum and Tyler, who both played for Collingwood's AFL team.[7][18]

Statistics

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Statistics are correct to the end of the 2023 season.[19]
Legend
  G  
Goals
  K  
Kicks
  D  
Disposals 
  T  
Tackles
  B  
Behinds 
  H  
Handballs 
  M  
Marks
Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game)
G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
2021 Collingwood 26 11 4 1 48 76 124 20 33 0.4 0.1 4.4 6.9 11.3 1.8 3.0
2022 (S6) Collingwood 26 8 1 0 29 43 72 13 22 0.1 0.0 3.6 5.4 9.0 1.6 2.0
2022 (S7) Collingwood 26 10 3 3 46 67 113 22 32 0.3 0.3 4.6 6.7 11.3 2.2 3.2
2023 Collingwood 26 5 1 0 19 19 38 4 13 0.2 0.0 3.8 3.8 7.6 0.8 2.6
Career 34 9 4 142 205 347 59 100 0.3 0.1 4.2 6.0 10.2 1.7 2.9

References

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  1. ^ "Tarni Brown". Basketball Draft Central. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  2. ^ Williams, Peter (7 May 2019). "MUVJBL U18 Girls review: Nunawading, Bulleen continue winning runs". Basketball Draft Central.
  3. ^ Hutchinson, Brandon (6 August 2019). "MUVJBL U18 Girls VC review: Round 6 – Rangers win big". Basketball Draft Central.
  4. ^ Black, Sarah (29 September 2020). "Roos set to nab surprise father–daughter draft selection". AFL Women's. Telstra. The former basketballer only started playing footy at 14 for Donvale...
  5. ^ Black, Sarah (30 September 2020). "Tarni time: Father–daughter Pie creates AFL/W first". AFL Women's. Telstra.
  6. ^ "Collingwood's first father–daughter prospect". Collingwood. Telstra. 12 November 2019.
  7. ^ a b Colangelo, Anthony (9 December 2019). "Brown town: Tarni trains with Collingwood as Pies close on family quartet". The Age.
  8. ^ Williams, Peter (26 February 2020). "New-look Ranges' coaching group ready to tackle 2020". Aussie Rules Draft Central.
  9. ^ Lewis, Tash (29 September 2020). "Tarni Brown becomes Collingwood's first AFLW father–daughter pick". Collingwood. Telstra. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  10. ^ Mullan, Alanna (8 October 2020). "AFLW: Five new Magpies fly into the nest". Collingwood. Telstra.
  11. ^ Mullan, Alanna (2 November 2020). "AFLW: New guernsey numbers for 2021". Collingwood. Telstra. Tarni Brown will wear the number 26 that was made famous by her father, Gavin Brown.
  12. ^ Mullan, Alanna (15 January 2021). "AFLW: Pies name squad for practice match". Collingwood. Telstra. All six new draftees are set to put on the black and white for their first official hit-out including father–daughter pick Tarni Brown.
  13. ^ Mullan, Alanna (27 January 2021). "AFLW: Three Pies to debut". Collingwood. Telstra. The club's first ever father–daughter pick, Tarni Brown will make her debut in the midfield wearing the number 26 made famous by her Dad, Gavin Brown.
  14. ^ Black, Sarah (8 March 2021). "Rising Star, R6: Historic Pie, Roo get the nod". AFL Women's. Telstra.
  15. ^ Lewis, Tash (11 June 2021). "AFLW: Collingwood secure top 10 talent". collingwoodfc.com.au. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
  16. ^ "27 Recommit to the Pies". Collingwood. Telstra. 16 March 2023. Reigning Club Best and Fairest Jordyn Allen heads up a series of top talent in Imogen Barnett, Tarni Brown, Lauren Butler and Aishling Sheridan who have all penned fresh two-year deals.
  17. ^ "Brown to wear Navy Blue in 2024 after four-way trade". Carlton. Telstra. 11 December 2023.
  18. ^ Harrington, Anna (9 December 2019). "Black, white and Brown: Will this rising star join her brothers at the Pies?". AFL Women's. Telstra.
  19. ^ "Tarni Brown - Player Stats By Season". Australian Football. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
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