DON'T underestimate the significance of No. 1 draftee and boom 17-year-old recruit Jack Watts wearing the No. 4 guernsey at Melbourne.
The great Norm Smith is Melbourne's most famous No. 4 player and now the super-impressive Watts has the distinction of reigniting the number made famous in the red and blue from 1935 to 1948.
Watts said he was honoured and privileged to be given the number, during a packed media conference at the Long Room at the MCG on Monday.
"Throughout the under-18 championships I wore No. 4," Watts said.
"Personally the under-18 championships were the stepping stone, where I became known, and the story [of No. 4] with the Melbourne Football Club is just amazing."
Smith, the AFL coach of last century, guided Melbourne to six premierships in 1955, '56, '57, '59, '60 and 1964. As a player, he was a member of Melbourne's 1939, '40, '41 and 1948 premiership sides.
One of Smith's main prodigies was Ron Barassi Jnr, who lived with the coach for several years early in his career. Barassi's father had been a teammate of Smith's.
Barassi captained Melbourne to two premierships and also played in six – 1955, '56, '57, '59, '60 and 1964.
He was also instrumental in creating one of the greatest stories ever told in Australian Football – the recruitment of Jim Stynes from Ireland in 1984.
History shows Stynes went on to play 264 AFL matches – including 244 in a row (a League record). He also won the 1991 Brownlow Medal and claimed four Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Trophies.
Barassi spoke with pride when he handed the No. 4 guernsey over to Watts.
"I hope you can muster up all that you have within you over a long period and do exactly what the former wearer of this jumper, Norm Smith did," Barassi said.
"If you can do as much for Melbourne as Norm Smith did, it will be just wonderful.
"I'm sure you'll add honour to this. It's a tough task, but I'm sure you'll have a really good go at doing it and we hope you do."
Stynes, now Melbourne president, is passionate in continuing this club legacy.
"It's a pretty special moment in our history as a football club," Stynes said.
"Jack is now a new cog and he has been added to our history of the football club and will be providing a lot of hope as we go forward.
"We're very proud of the history of this jumper – the No. 4 – there are a lot of numbers that carry some weight, but this one particularly with Norm Smith [having worn it]."
Club CEO and passionate Melbourne historian Cameron Schwab also spoke of the hope Watts and Sam Blease (Melbourne's second draft choice at No. 17) bring to the Demons.
"Our (Melbourne's) first picks are two year 11 students. When we talk about a club with 150 years of history and tradition and we talk about the heritage and the hope, these guys represent our hope," Schwab said.
"Part of what we are trying to do is explain and recognise he's representing the hope, but also the heritage of this club as well."
