Brown closing in on Coleman Medal win

SHARP shooter Ben Brown joined some North Melbourne royalty on Friday night as he continues to chase a maiden Coleman Medal.

Brown booted four majors in the Roos’ 22-point defeat of Hawthorn, taking his tally for the season to 52.

He closed to within five goals of leader Jeremy Cameron after the Greater Western Sydney star was a late withdrawal on Saturday with a calf complaint, but he could return for next weekend’s clash against Hawthorn in Canberra.

However, it was another club milestone Brown ticked off which saw him join some illustrious company.

The 26-year-old has now reached the 50-goal mark for the third consecutive season — becoming the first Kangaroo to achieve the feat since Wayne Carey.

Carey was named North Melbourne’s greatest-ever player on Saturday night at the club’s special 150-year anniversary dinner.

While Brown continues to grow into a key pillar in the league, the news was not as bright for another Tasmanian star on Friday night at Docklands.

In just his third match back from nearly two years on the sidelines, Grant Birchall tweaked his hamstring in the third quarter.

The four-time premiership defender had only recently returned from a serious PCL injury and calf complications, and was showing why he made his name as one of the club’s most underrated stars during its golden era.

By halftime he had racked up the second most disposals on the ground (15) and booted his first goal in three years. But another soft-tissue injury has now not only thrown the remainder of his 2019 campaign in doubt but potentially his career.

“I haven’t spoken to him as yet but he’s got a slight hamstring injury and we’ll get that scanned during the week and see how he goes,” Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson said after the Hawks’ 22-point loss.

Birchall, who is stranded on 248 games, will be 32 entering next season.

Collingwood pair Jeremy Howe and Brody Mihocek enjoyed themselves in Collingwood’s big win against Gold Coast, with the former recovering from a leg knock in the first term to haul in 11 marks and 21 disposals, while Mihocek kicked 2.2 and also finished with double-digit marks.