‘I’m just over the moon’
Excited Oscar follows in his Dad’s footsteps
THE mood at Nicky Brownless’s house yesterday could have not summed up her son Oscar any better.
Low-key, with just a few friends and family, including his father, Geelong champion Billy.
There they watched with anticipation the second day of the AFL draft on TV to learn his fate.
It was a longer wait than they might have hoped for, as teammates from the Geelong Falcons had their names read before him and the Cats continued to use picks on players from South Australia.
But if Oscar Brownless has learnt anything in the past few years, it is perseverance.
Soon enough, his time came, and at pick 74, Geelong secured him as a father-son selection.
“I’m so excited and just over the moon to be part of such a great club,” Brownless said.
“I’m so thankful for the opportunity they have given me and I can’t wait to get in there and start repaying the investment they have made.”
Brownless has endured more than most kids his age due to circumstances beyond his control — most of which has played out very publicly.
But the maturity he has shown throughout speaks volumes of his character.
The running machine spent time with Geelong this year and said while that would undoubtedly help him transition into life as an AFL footballer, he was not placing any unnecessary expectations on himself for the 2019 season.
“I have grown up around the club and been there since I was a little kid looking up to all the stars. It has been something that has been with me and fuelling me for as long as I can remember and it is the reason why I play footy,” he said.
“But I’m not getting too far ahead of myself, it’s still early days and I have got a lot of work ahead of me but I know I have got some great contacts for support around the club if I need.
“The standard they (the senior players) adhere to at training was a real eye-opening experience. I was fortunate enough to meet a few of the boys and get to know them so I think that makes it easier.
“But you hear it all the time that once you get drafted everyone is on the same level and from there it’s up to you to put in the hard work. Every kid has got areas to work on and I can still improve my kicking and contested ball work and all of those crafts.”
Brownless is described as a gut-running ball-winner capable of playing in a variety of positions, including wing and halfback, or through the forward half of the ground if required.
His Dad, who in his media role was critical at times of the work ethic of some of Geelong’s midfielders this year, admitted he needed a ‘refreshment or two’ to calm his nerves as the draft went on, but paid tribute to his son’s desire to strive for continual improvement.
“It was a bit of a wait to be honest, (pick) 74 was a long time,” the 198game club great said.
“I said to myself ‘I won’t have a beer, I’ll just wait until he gets drafted,’ but to be honest I had to have a couple because I was just getting a bit nervous towards the end.
“The Cats have been great and they said they would love to pick him up, but there are no guarantees, and then when you get towards the 70s you’re thinking we might have to wait.
“But when it is read out it is fantastic, to actually hear that name is really, really good. To be honest it is just a proud moment, and I’m a proud parent, a proud dad, today.
“I have got to take my hat off to him, he has worked really hard and I remember five or six years ago he was a bit chubby and I thought he won’t even get a game with Ammos, where he was playing.
“But he has worked really hard and to his credit he has got down and dirty and he likes the contested stuff.”
Oscar spent time working at Brownless’ pub, the Cremorne Hotel, this year, collecting glasses and clearing plates from tables, and said his parents had been amazing confidantes as the draft approached.
“Dad was there and I shook hands with him and had a nice embrace,” he said.
“It was good to have him there. He doesn’t get emotional too often but he may have been close to having a few tears.
“He is there to help me when I need, and so is Mum, they are both so supportive of me and if I do need help I know that they are there for me.”
What impact Brownless has won’t be known for some time, but if his first official outing as a Cat is anything to go by, then there is no doubt that Geelong has landed another father-son beauty.