Sky is the limit for Derry’s Callum Brown after five-goal haul Down Under

Callum Brown booted a career-high five goals wearing fluorescent orange boots for the Greater Western Sydney Giants in their opening round 114-82 statement victory over defending AFL Premiers Collingwood at home on Saturday.

Brown’s heroics earned him a high-end LED television, but he would rather have won a new sofa instead.

The former Derry GAA underage star, according to team-mate Tom Green, was “unstoppable” in just his 30th senior game for the ‘Orange Tsunami’.

The GWS fans have even invented what Brown calls a “Mexican Cha Cha” song as a tribute to him becoming a fan favourite.

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Both sides enjoyed periods of momentum in the first half, but Brown and the Giants dominated in the second term, making the premiers appear second rate.

The Limavady man (23) quipped post-match: “Can we trade it for a new sofa?

“Ours is a bit dirty and we are looking for a new one. I’ll take the TV though, it’s a special one, so I’ll take it!”

In the first quarter, Brown kicked his first goal, an exquisite long-range strike from 55 metres out, and just minutes later he found space to mark on his own inside the GWS forward 50m arc.

Brown kicked his second, added a third in a similar vein, and kicked a further two goals in the second half using his trademark blistering pace to out manoeuvre the Magpies bumbling defence.

Overall, Brown, who also played underage soccer for Linfield player, finished with 11 disposals (8 kicks & 3 handballs) and 7 marks.

The emerging forward’s bag of five goals is the highest of his AFL career, but he was reluctant to accept all of the adulation, insisting he is far from the finished article in his new hybrid role between the Giants key forwards and marking targets.

“We just wanted to bring the pressure today and it was on the back of that, that I got my goals,” Brown said.

“The big boys did their job by bringing the ball to ground for us small boys to kick goals. The capacity crowd was amazing, and I loved playing in front of them.

“My job was to stay connected to the other forwards and drop off when I could. I probably kicked a couple of cheap ones, but a goal is a goal, so I’ll take it.

“I’ve been given the licence to roam around in the forward line and use my speed a lot more, and stay connected to my opponent, instead of letting him drop off and take intercept marks.”

Brown was a part of the GWS side who endured preliminary final agony against Collingwood last year, when they lost to the 2023 premiers by a solitary point at the MCG.

The agonising loss denied Brown the opportunity to set up an epic cross-Sperrins showdown against Tyrone Sam Maguire winner Conor McKenna who played in his first Grand Final for the Brisbane Lions.

Brisbane’s defeat handed Collingwood a record equalling 16th premiership in one of the greatest season decider’s ever played.

Brown told the Irish News last month that GWS could go through the whole season undefeated, and after dismantling last year’s premiers, he may be proved right.

“We can definitely keep winning,” Brown said.

“If we can break down a team like Collingwood, then we can beat anyone. "

Brown first announced himself in the AFL with two goals in a shock win over Geelong in just his second AFL match in 2021, but he had to wait until last year to establish himself in the Giants’ senior side, when he booted 19 goals in as many matches.

Having penned a two-year contract extension last year, Brown is settled both on and off the field. He had never previously been selected for the Giants first game of the season but has now notched that milestone with aplomb.

On paper at least GWS now have a winnable run of games coming up which could cement their spot in the top eight ahead of of finals football in September.

“It was very exciting because for the last five years I wasn’t able to get in the team for the first game of the season,” Brown said.

“We know the system now that Adam Kingsley (GWS second-year coach) wanted to plant in last year and I reckon it’s a good opportunity for us just to maximize it this year and really go for it.

“And if we can play out how we did in the second half of last year throughout the whole year and through the finals, we can go a long way,” he said.

“The first game doesn’t really say where you’re going to sit at the end of the year. But realistically, winning that could set us up perfectly for the next couple of weeks, for the next eight rounds.”

Brown has made no secret of his long-term ambition to return to the GAA to win an All-Ireland title with Derry.

He even kicked a stunning goal from the wing using a Gaelic football in Friday’s training session to the amazement of his teammates.

“I always say I’ve got the longest kick in the club, but I reckon I do, and I reckon it’s just a bit of the Gaelic background,” he explained

“I always kick around the corner and argue that just gives me a bit of advantage in the long kick.

“I still feel more comfortable kicking a Gaelic ball instead of a Sherrin. It’s something I grew up and I will never lose.”

Giants coach Adam Kingsley expressed his admiration for Brown’s four-quarter display in his post-match interview.

“It was great to see Callum Brown capitalise on the opportunities he’s been getting in front of him,” Kingsley said,

“Callum’s goals probably kept us in the game in the first half.”

And Kingsley added:

“Cal’s growing his game all over and he’s probably one of the guys whose reaped more rewards than others, because he’s got scope to move.

“He’s a really difficult match-up, he can mark the ball, he can win it on the ground, he’s got explosive speed, he’s got great power, we know that, but he’s putting himself in position to really maximise that.

“He’s in a really good space and he’s started really well.”