Talented Richmond defender Tom Brown is in AFL career-best form right now following a slow start to this season.

Brown wasn’t selected for the Tigers’ Round 1 match against Carlton, regained his place in the senior side for the Round 2 clash with Gold Coast, but was then omitted after the Round 5 loss to Greater Western Sydney.

He spent just one game back in the VFL before returning to AFL level for Richmond’s Anzac Day Eve blockbuster v Melbourne.

The 22-year-old produced a top-notch performance that night, finishing with 24 disposals, seven marks, seven rebound-50s, nine intercepts and 424 metres gained.

Brown then played a key role in the Tigers’ first win of the year the following round against West Coast at Optus Stadium. He had 23 disposals, 10 marks, eight rebound-50s. six intercepts and 509 metres gained.

Unfortunately, in the next match against Adelaide at the MCG, Brown broke his arm in the opening minutes and was sidelined for a month.

He made it back for Richmond’s Round 14 encounter with reigning back-to-back premiers Brisbane in Hobart and acquitted himself well, with 16 disposals, four marks, four rebound-50s, four intercepts and 293 metres gained.

In Sunday’s Round 15 match against North Melbourne at the MCG, Brown had an AFL career-high 26 disposals, with nine contested possessions, an equal team-high eight marks, a career-high six inside-50s, three rebound-50s, six intercepts and 442 metres gained.

That display by Brown was a bright light on an overall dull day for the Tigers.

Over the course of his past four full games, Brown is averaging 22.1 disposals, 7.2 marks, 6.2 intercepts, 5.5 rebound-50s and 416.7 metres gained.

Not only is Brown winning plenty of possessions he continues to show his preparedness to take the game on and is predominantly distributing the ball with trademark precision.

With 51 appearances at the game’s highest level now to his credit, Brown shapes as an important part of the Tiger team’s future.