An established AFL Key Forward was told by the Football Club which had drafted him seven years earlier, that he should look elsewhere to continue his playing career. North Melbourne's Ben Brown nominated Melbourne as his preferred new club and in the space of a year he went from the team that finished with a Wooden Spoon to the team that finished with a Premiership Cup.

Just weeks after winning his first ever grand final, Ben Brown was back where it all started - in Hobart - as the special guest at the Carbine Club Tasmania's Sports Luncheon. 

The event which was held on Friday October 29, attracted a large crowd to the Tasman Room at the Wrest Point Hotel Casino. Earlier, the Carbine Club Tasmania had conducted its Annual General Meeting where Steve Adermann was elected unopposed as the President for a forth year. Also re-elected to the Committee were Ross Burridge (Secretary), Josh Tegg (Treasurer), Paul Fallon, Mike Davey and Wendy Kennedy who were joined by two new Committee members Simon Bevan and Paul Lennon. 

A surprise guest at the Sports Luncheon was Australian Men's Test Cricket Captain Tim Paine, who joined Steve Adermann during the President's address to discuss his recovery from surgery, the current form of the Aussie players and of course, the upcoming Ashes series against the 'old enemy'. 

Mr. Adermann also updated luncheon guests on the recent sponsorships provided to young Tasmanians including Alex Peroni, Cooper Ford and Hobart brothers Billy & Harry Taylor (pictured below) who had just returned from Queensland after representing Tasmania at the State Touch Football Championships. Both boys and their father attended the luncheon and expressed their appreciation of the financial assistance they received from the Carbine Club Tasmania which helped them to participate in the tournament.

Following lunch, special guest Ben Brown spoke about his time at North Melbourne and how a recurring knee injury had affected his last season at the Kangaroos and the first few months at the Demons. He used his time in the reserves to find his form and get back to playing AFL at the top level. Ben also revealed a side of his life which many didn't realise existed - his work with a number of different charity organisations. It was evident to everyone in the room that family is very important to Ben. From his wife and two daughters to his siblings, his parents and their siblings and of course his grandparents. 

In addition to a number of his former team mates from the Glenorchy District Football Club, there were some past Melbourne Football Club players in attendance. Garry 'Bull' Baker was in the crowd, along with 1968 Best and Fairest winner Ray Groom. Ray was invited by Melbourne coach Norm Smith to wear the famous number 31 guernsey after the retirement of the great Ron Barassi. Ray Groom pursed politics after football and served as Premier of Tasmania. 

Former television presenter and Carbine Club Tasmania Committee Member Wendy Kennedy thanked Ben for an inspiring interview and presented him with a bottle of Remnant 'Scoundrel' Tasmanian Single Malt Whisky as a thank-you gift.

Check out the photos from the luncheon here.

Billy & Harry Taylor were sponsored by Carbine Club Tasmania to assist with the costs of participating in the State Touch Football Championships in Queensland.