The ex-Pie was instrumental in the Eagles’ 78-point drubbing of Mooroopna at Mansfield Reserve in round six, booting six goals and causing the Cats plenty of headaches through the midfield.
The High Country hosts shook off a determined Mooroopna outfit that trailed by only 16 points at half-time, spurred on by three goals apiece from Dan Tuddenham and Will Wood.
The Eagles, determined to buck a concerning recent trend, delivered a brutal second half blitz.
Mansfield fired off 12 goals to Mooroopna’s two in the second half as young forward Adam Storer (four goals), Matt King (three), and Tom Dunstan launched their side to a 21.13 (139) to 8.13 (61) result that moved the club into third with a 4-2 record.
“I was stoked,” Eagles’ coach Mitch Wareham said.
“The last couple of weeks we've been outscored in second halves, so it was good just to come out after half time and kick away.
“The first half we just weren't clean. We had opportunities, but when we got the ball to the outside, we just weren't clean enough and invited the pressure.
“In the second half we just tidied that up which is a credit to the boys.”
At the tip of the spear was Brown, who now has 11 goals from his past two games.
The reigning Morrison Medallist has been at his damaging best, and his coach believes he’s gone to another level in 2026.
“He’s just a freak,” Wareham said.
“In my opinion, he's having a much better year than he had last year which, when you're the reigning Morrison Medallist, it's bizarre to say.
“I think he's probably been a lot more damaging with his disposals this year. He obviously accumulates a lot but in the last two weeks he’s kicked 11 goals.”
Wareham also handed plaudits to several of his leaders.
“Matt King had a really good game,” he said.
“He's been thrown a little bit around the last couple of weeks, so he had a really good game.
“Max Mahoney was very, very good again going through the midfield. It’s good to have him and Harry back from VFL.
“Tom Dunstan was very good as well.”
The Eagles have now won two games in a row, but an already extensive injury list gained another member ahead of a showdown against reigning premiers Kyabram.
Al Bennett joins a long cast of Mansfield wounded after sustaining a shoulder injury in a marking contest.
“It’s frustrating for him,” Wareham said.
“To come into the side and show a bit of form and then to go down in a marking contest, it’s a bit horrible for him.
“But we won't know what it actually is until he gets it scanned.”
The Eagles make the trip out to face the Bombers at Kyabram Reserve in round seven, a tough prospect at the best of times but possibly more so against a Ky outfit coming off a frustrating 66-point defeat to pacesetters Shepparton.
Meanwhile, Mooroopna (ninth) is bound for Euroa in a mission to secure a third win of the season.
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