Tigers unearth promising giant

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Most AFL players never forget their first game but for young Richmond ruckman Andrew Browne it will be his third game that sticks most in his memory when he looks back on his tough early initiation into the game at the highest level.

The 20-year-old, 203cm giant from Mansfield in Victoria's high country - the same area that also produced Collingwood big man Josh Fraser - made his AFL debut way back in Round 1, 2009.

That was also the night the Tigers suffered a humiliating 83-point loss to Carlton with Browne clearly looking like a player that had been rushed into the side too early in his development.

That match would also prove the beginning of the end of the Terry Wallace era at Punt Road and as Wallace fought unsuccessfully to his rescue his failed tenure, Browne was not seen again for the rest of the season.

And when new Richmond coach Damien Hardwick took over this season he certainly did not make the same mistake as Wallace did by refusing to rush Browne into the side too early.

In fact Browne had to wait until a fortnight ago against Collingwood in Round 17 to play his second AFL match and again the Tigers' copped another hiding, this time by 82 points.

But this time Browne was retained in the team and come last Sunday both he and the club were finally rewarded for their patience when the young giant played a vital cameo role in the come-from-behind win over Adelaide.

While Browne may have only had eight disposals for the game - that was still more than his combined total for his first two games - while his 16 hit-outs for the match easily surpassed his combined total of six for his first two games.

But it was his great contested mark against experienced Adelaide defender Scott Stevens and resultant set shot goal from 35 metres out early in the final quarter that had the Tigers' fans convinced that, following the recent improvement of Angus Graham, the club may have unearthed another promising ruckman.

For Browne it was a welcome change of fortune and it didn-t matter to him that were less than 20,000 fans to see it after he played in front of huge crowds in his first two games against Collingwood and Carlton and lost both games.

"Playing in front of big crowds (and losing) doesn't compare to a win so it was the best game by far," he said.

Browne admits it has been tough waiting so long to get his chance but is now determined to make the most of the opportunity.

"It was tough waiting so long for my second game but it was good because it gave me a taste of where I needed to get to and I went away and played VFL for a bit and improved on the things I needed to improve on."

"Even the week before (against Collingwood) it felt like my first game again so it was good to get another chance against Adelaide and get a few runs on the board I suppose."

And what about his surprising exploits in front of goal?

Well Browne admitted he had never been so nervous when lining up for his crucial set shot in the final term with his great kick under the dreadful conditions a stark contrast to the easy shots missed by far more agile and experienced Adelaide players earlier in the match.

But he also revealed to Sportal that a bit of timely advice from the Tigers' goalkicking sensation Jack Riewoldt also helped him.

"My heart was pumping that's for sure," he said.

"But Jack Riewoldt came up and said just kick to the guy in the red shirt (behind the goals) I didn-t quite do that but it still managed to sneak through so I was pretty happy."

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