First things first: congratulations on the big news.
Secondly, and I know I speak not only for myself, please, please, please, let it be a boy!
As I looked at the signed framed picture of Chris that has pride of place on my loungeroom wall, I had a rosy view of the world in 2031 - of a youngster in your image wearing No.5 in the Blues' colours wreaking havoc.
May your genes be just as prepotent as that other famous five, carried by Gary Ablett, and passed through to the premiership-playing brothers.
At the moment, Chris, you sit on 64 games for the Blues. Another two seasons and you'll reach the 100-game milestone, and your name will be affixed for all time on that famous five locker at Visy Park.
That's great for you, but for the fans of the mighty Blues, it also means you and yours qualify for two clubs under the father-son rule.
Then there will be a choice to be made.
If Australian football is the young man's chosen sport (how could it be anything else?) and he is considered good enough to play at the elite level, I implore you to do the right thing by the club that facilitated your return to your home state advise him, via gentle parental love, to choose the Blues.
As we know, it is not a certainty that your God-given will be passed on. Sporting history is littered with plenty of examples of the father's talent not being passed on to the son. If only young John Bradman could have been as good as 'The Don'.
Sometimes it has been passed on to the daughter. Look no further than former star Carlton full-back Geoff Southby.
His daughter Eloise scaled the heights of her chosen sport, netball. I've met Eloise and she's a nice girl and talented athlete, but I admit there have been times when I wish she had been a boy and was wearing the navy blue.
In some cases the son is better than the father. Serg Silvagni was my mum's favourite player, but it is hard to deny that his son Stephen was a better footballer.
That gives me hope for the future that at least one of SOS's three boys might follow in his footsteps and even outdo the AFL's full-back of the 20th century.
I'm sure you're aware, Chris, that lovable larrikin Jimmy Buckley, a star of the golden era of the late seventies and early eighties, has produced a talented son, Dylan, a young midfielder who will be your teammate after committing to the Blues under the father-son rule for the 2012 season.
Like every Carlton supporter, I have marvelled at your sublime skills and your leadership of our young group.
After more than a decade of misery, I cling to the fervent hope that you can lead us out of the wilderness and take us to the promised land over the next few seasons for premiership No. 17.
I'm not sure that you know how sad it is to be sharing 16 with Essendon, and now having Collingwood breathing down our necks.
I am not a religious man, but I admit as I put my head on the pillow after hearing of the impending birth of your child I offered a little prayer, or perhaps a wish - please let the baby be a healthy boy.
And you have my blessing to name the boy Howard.
'A letter to …' is a regular feature of the AFL/Telstra Network. You are invited to send your own letter of wish, praise or criticism to letterto@afl.com.au and we will publish the best responses.
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL
