Tom Brown produced the best performance of his AFL career in Richmond’s nine-point victory over Essendon at the MCG last Saturday night.

The talented 21-year-old, in his 36th game of AFL football, played a pivotal role in the win with impressive intercept and rebounding work across the Tigers’ backline.

He had 23 disposals, with seven contested possessions, a game-high and AFL career-high 11 marks, an equal game-high/career-high eight rebound-50s, three inside-50s, equal career-high six score involvements, team-high nine intercepts and 491 metres gained.

Brown has taken a significant step forward in his development at senior level with Richmond this season.

He is averaging 14.3 disposals, 5.0 marks, 3.9 rebound-50s, 2.8 score involvements, 5.1 intercepts and 324.9 metres gained per match.

Those averages are well above Brown’s statistical numbers last year, in what was his first full season of AFL football.