THE PRE-GAME chatter might have died down in the lead-up to Friday night but come the first bounce against his former side on Friday night Collingwood utility Leigh Brown expects to hear plenty of talk.

And it won’t just be from his teammates.

It wasn’t so long ago that Brown, now settled into life at the Lexus Centre, was running out alongside the men he this week has had a hand in planning to bring down.

After six seasons at North Melbourne – and three at Fremantle prior to that – it is only natural Brown keeps in touch with some of the men from Arden Street.

But, like the calm before the storm, he has noted the drop-off in communication this week.

“I speak to Shannon Watt and Leigh Harding a fair bit but that’s been on hold this week,” Brown told collingwoodfc.com.au.

“You keep in contact with a few of the guys but when you’re playing each other you don’t talk too much.”

Brown plays in much the same vein as he did 12 months ago but there is one obvious difference. The stripes on his jumper, while still running vertically, are now black, and he couldn’t be happier at his new home.

Recruited last November after training with the Pies ahead of the NAB AFL Draft, Brown was snapped up by Collingwood in the hope of being able to fill a key forward or defensive post.

He has done just that, while also supporting big man Josh Fraser in the ruck.

While some might still consider him a Mr Fix-it, Brown says 2009 has seen him embrace a “more distinct role”.

“I’ve probably been a bit more settled,” he said of his positional roles this year.

“I’ve been helping Josh out in the ruck and playing mainly forward. I’ve only been down back once or twice.”

On Thursday, coach Mick Malthouse noted that his mature-age recruit had “fitted in beautifully” at the Magpies.

One might think Brown could harbour some ill feeling towards his former club – which didn’t want him despite him playing 118 matches in Kangaroo colours – when he runs out on Friday night.

But he’s determined to kick on with the newest chapter of his career and build on his 185-game career.

“If I go out there thinking that, I’m probably going to start behind the eight-ball,” he said.

“I’ll just go out to enjoy my footy. I’m really loving my new club and playing a role for the team.

“It’s going to be exciting to play against the old guys. I guess it’s a bit like junior footy where you get to play against your mates that you go to school with.”

That’s not to say that just because many opponents on Friday night are mates, he isn’t using that knowledge to help the Pies get across the line.

While Brown said the Pies had coaches that were “pretty much all over” whatever opposition they faced each week, he was only too happy to cough up any inside information he might have as he tries to help his side go 3-3 for the year.

“Where I’ve been able to chip in is with a few of the other players … just knowing some of the younger guys that are coming into the system and haven’t played much footy like a Gavin Urquhart, a Levi Greenwood and those sorts of guys,” he said.