Victorian defenders Jarrad Waite and Matthew Scarlett were surprised and excited to discover they will share a special link that spans 37 years if they're selected to take on the Dream Team at the MCG on Saturday night.
Gary Ablett's withdrawal from the Hall of Fame Tribute match with a calf strain leaves 25-year-old Waite and Scarlett, 28, as the only second-generation members of the Victorian squad.
Their fathers, the late Vin Waite and Geelong's John Scarlett played one game each for Victoria - in the same match - against South Australia at the MCG in 1971.
Rugged and uncompromising in his 153 games for Carlton which included two premierships, Vin Waite, who made headlines that day for landing a 'Liverpool kiss' on the nose of Croweaters forward Malcolm Greenslade, lined-up in a back pocket right alongside Scarlett senior in the Vics' 30-point win.
Both sons, who co-incidentally inherited the No.30s Vin and John sported for the Blues and Cats, were aware their fathers had once worn the Big V with pride, but were hazy on the details until approached by Sportal after a light training run at the MCG on Thursday morning.
"I spoke to (dad) a while ago about it, but it's that long ago I don't think he can remember," Scarlett said of his father who played 183 games for Geelong between 1967 and 1977 and 29 for South Melbourne in 77-78.
Waite, who was drafted into the 30-man Victorian squad on Sunday, was thrilled to discover his connection to Scarlett.
"It's pretty amazing when you look at it like that," Waite said.
"I was at my sister's house when I found out (about my selection) and she had dad's old (Big V) jumper and got it out."
"He didn't really speak about it that much, I sort of knew he had (represented Victoria), but it's pretty exciting having that family history."
Both Waite and Scarlett will be a chance for the job on Hawthorn sensation Lance Franklin, though with Matthew Pavlich, Cam Mooney, Brett Burton and Matthew Richardson, amongst others, to attend to, there will be nowhere to hide in the Vics' backline.
”He's a freak, he's a very good player and very talented and whoever gets him is going to have their hands full," said Scarlett of Franklin.
"There hasn't been that buzz about a player for a long time, I reckon, I really can’t remember one."
"Because they're in a new side they might not gel as well as he does for Hawthorn; I'm banking on that a little bit."
Scarlett, who said he was a big fan of State of Origin matches and would like to see them reinstated annually, dismissed any prospect of developing nerves ahead of Saturday's clash.
His most recent appearance at the MCG - last year's grand final - had gone so well, he reasoned, what's there to fret about?
Waite, in contrast, admitted to feeling some apprehension as the week's progressed but was pleased that Carlton team-mates Chris Judd and Brendan Fevola were along for the ride.
"We're playing against the best players in the land and it's not going to be easy - the defence are going to have to … help each other out and support each other," he said.
"The chance to even run out on Saturday night is a tremendous honour and I'll take whatever I can get."
"It's one of those things that might not happen again and you've just got to take your opportunities."