Essendon youngster Archie Roberts couldn't have received bigger plaudits during the off-season when club legend Dyson Heppell requested he take over his No.21 locker.
After 14 years of wearing the well-recognised Bombers digits, Heppell retired, leaving the game with 253 games under his belt, but also six seasons as the captain following arguably the club's tumultuous time in history.
So, whoever donned the No.21 next had big shoes to fill.
Roberts, who is fresh off a Rising Star nomination for his impressive performance against Melbourne in Gather Round, was drafted with Pick 54 in the 2023 intake.
He slipped further down the draft order than Essendon predicted, which pleased the recruiting staff, and his coach, Brad Scott.
"We have a lot of time for Archie," Scott said on Tuesday.
"If you go back through the draft, we traded up in the draft to recruit him. We really liked him. We're really happy to get him, particularly at the pick we did.
"And he hasn't put a foot wrong. He's a great competitor. He's got this fantastic mix of being very humble but never overawed by the big stage, or quality opponent. He actually relishes those situations.
"That's the ideal mix you want in a professional sportsmen."
Roberts had been handed No.38 for his maiden season in the big leagues, but was quickly identified by Heppell as someone who could carry his number forward into a new era.
"Dyson requested it, not the other way around," Scott continued.
"Dyson identified very early on that he's a guy whose got a long future at the Essendon football club, and represents the values that Dyson held most dearly.
"Can't get much more of a wrap than that."
Roberts, who has built a strong relationship with the former Bombers skipper, felt it was a "massive honour" to receive his number.
"Dys gave me a call, day one of pre-season," Roberts said.
"He was offering his number, and it was something I couldn't say no to. It was a massive honour."
Roberts played the final four games of the 2024 season as a dashing defender, utilising his elite kicking and close-out speed to hold a spot in Scott's side.
Entering the new campaign, the 19-year-old has picked up where he left off, and is starting to influence the outcomes of games.
"I didn't want to be someone who was in and out of the side," Roberts said.
"I wanted to cement my spot. And I think playing the last four games of last year gave me the confidence to move into this year, have a big pre-season, and take it into 2025.
"I made sure I trained with the best. I did a lot of work with Nic Martin and Mason Redman, who are two stars of our team, and the competition.
"And they drove me harder than I thought I could go. They've been really important for my development."
The Bombers will look to tip the win-loss scale to the positive as they prepare for a clash against West Coast on Good Friday.
