"Becoming an imposing presence" - AFL legend Luke Darcy lauds GWS Giants forward Callum Brown after hat-trick against Brisbane Lions

AFL legend Luke Darcy praised GWS Giants forward Callum Brown after his hat-trick against Brisbane Lions on Thursday, April 25. The Giants handed the Lions their fifth loss of the season after a 54-point victory, and Brown spearheaded the win with three goals.

The 23-year-old opened the scoring early in the first quarter as the Giants raced to an 11-point lead. His second goal came in the second quarter, which the Lions won by three points. The Giants outplayed the Lions in the third quarter, scoring five unanswered goals, but Brown completed his hat-trick with a stunning kick in the last quarter.

Brown's goalscoring performance on the night caught the attention of former Western Bulldogs player Luke Darcy who was running commentary for the game. He said (via Irish News):

“Callum Brown is becoming an imposing presence in the GWS forward line. What a bonus for GWS to get a Category B rookie who can kick like Brown.”

Darcy played as a ruckman for the Western Bulldogs, kicking 183 goals in 226 appearances in a career that spanned 13 years.

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How has Callum Brown performed this season?

The 23-year-old has been impressive this season and is one of GSW Giants' leading kickers with 13 goals and four behinds. He has featured in all seven games, recording 62 disposals (34 kicks, 38 handbells), 24 marks and 14 tackles.

The Giants have enjoyed a good run of form and are early-season favorites to win the premiership, thanks to the performances of Brown and his teammates. They are second in the league table with 24 points, the same number of points as Geelong Cats who have played a game less.

Brown is an international rookie drafted into the AFL in 2018. He made his debut in 2021 and has scored 38 goals in 36 appearances for the Giants.