The Richmond Football Club has ushered in a new era, announcing that young star Sam Lalor will wear the iconic No.4 guernsey, a number immortalised by the legendary Dustin Martin.
A New Custodian for an Iconic Number
The major announcement came on Tuesday as the Tigers unveiled a host of new playing numbers for the upcoming season. While the club made a significant event out of presenting Jonty Faull with the No.8 jersey, they saved the headline act for later, teasing "we have one more thing" before revealing Lalor as the new custodian of the No.4.
The move was met with immediate excitement from the Tigers' faithful. Sam Lalor, the club's No.1 draft pick in 2024, had previously expressed his desire to wear the famous number when he was drafted. After a debut season hampered by multiple injuries, where he managed just 11 senior games, Lalor now has the honour of donning the jersey he admired growing up.
"There is some great No.4s in our history within the club. I wore it as a kid growing up and can not wait to wear it for the first time," Lalor said. "I look up to him (Martin) a lot, obviously try to base my game off him a fair bit, and he had such an impact at Richmond. Hopefully, I can try and play a bit like him... it is a massive honour to wear his number."
Honouring the Past, Building the Future
The number change carries immense weight following Dustin Martin's retirement late in the 2024 season after 302 games. Martin's career is the stuff of AFL folklore, boasting three premierships, three Norm Smith Medals, a Brownlow Medal, and nearly every other individual accolade possible.
The symbolism of the day extended beyond the No.4. The anointing of Jonty Faull as the next No.8 was a powerful gesture, with Tigers royalty Dick Clay, Michael "Disco" Roach, and Jack Riewoldt present at Punt Rd to welcome the young player into their exclusive club.
"It's great that it (No.8) is carried on. It's a very exclusive club, this one," said Clay, while Riewoldt stated he would have "no greater thrill" than watching Faull wear the number.
Faull, one of six high picks taken in last year's national draft, understood the significance. "I felt super-honoured and stoked to be part of that club of No.8s," Faull said. "If I'm half the player they have been, I'm taking the right steps."
A Club in Rebuild, On and Off the Field
The jersey presentations come as Richmond is in the midst of a wholesale rebuild, a fact visually underscored by the cavernous hole where the old Jack Dyer Stand once stood as the club also redevelops its spiritual home.
Despite pre-season speculation that the new-look Tigers might struggle, the team defied expectations, upsetting arch-rivals Carlton in round one and claiming another four wins.
Veteran Michael Roach noted the positive signs, both on the field and in the club's facilities. "We just walked through the gym - we only basically had one barbell, I reckon (when we played)," Roach observed, highlighting the club's growth. "I can't wait... seeing the development going on, it's going to be great."
When asked about the pressure on Faull, Jack Riewoldt offered encouraging words, reframing the expectation as opportunity. "It shouldn't be daunting for him, it's an amazing opportunity for him to start to become the player the club obviously thinks he can become," Riewoldt said. "When we see debutants, we celebrate them like wins, because we think about the potential of what these kids might have ahead of them."
