Fit Brown ready to lock in spot
Defender Mitch Brown is preparing to play round one against the Western Bulldogs after completing his first full pre-season since arriving at West Coast.
Brown has played all three of the Eagles' impressive victories and produced another strong showing against Fremantle on Thursday night, blanketing Chris Mayne.
The 25-year-old, who stands 195cm and weighs 93kg, is one of several options for coach Adam Simpson to take on the competition's big forwards, alongside Darren Glass, Eric Mackenzie and Will Schofield.
Brown played 19 games last season after requesting a trade to St Kilda at the end of 2012 in search of more opportunities.
But he was an emergency in rounds one, four and eight and admitted he always feared being dropped.
Brown saw Simpson's arrival as a fresh start and has benefited from a trouble-free summer.
"You get a chance to have a first impression again so that's the way I attacked it," he said.
"I haven't missed any session this pre-season dating back from November so my body feels good.
"I hadn't had a full pre-season since my first year in 2007.
"To get that amount of time under my belt is just good confidence with my body and skills."
Brown said playing on the likes of small forward Michael Walters as well as Mayne and the big Sydney forwards in recent weeks had shown his versatility.
He believed all four tall defenders could play in the same team and hoped he had done enough to lock down a spot.
"I have done everything that I believe I could do so I'm happy within myself and I'm prepared to play round one," Brown said.
Brown believes he is reaching his potential entering his eighth season.
"My weight has always been up there but I think it has just taken a bit of time for me to mature as a footballer, it's finally getting there I think," he said.
"I believe I've got the talent, it's just when I have got the ball in my hands, just making the right decisions.
"I have made some inroads with that. I have still got a long way to go but that's the key area I want to work on."
The Victorian, whose twin Nathan plays for Collingwood, said he was grateful his trade to the Saints didn't happen.
"I thank my lucky stars every day that I stayed here," he said.
