Melbourne Demons second-year rising star, Geraldton’s Judd McVee, claims new guernsey number

After a strong rookie campaign, second-year Geraldton-born and bred Demon Judd McVee has switched his guernsey from No.41 to No.4. The defender has risen through the ranks since he was drafted at pick 18 in the 2022 rookie draft, playing in every game for Melbourne last season and earning himself a rising star nomination in round 18. The No.4 guernsey had been worn by James Harmes since 2018, but his move to the Bulldogs opened up the number for McVee to take. While it has changed owners over the past few years, the No.4 comes with a lot of pressure as it was previously worn by AFL star Norm Smith, who clocked 210 games in the number for Melbourne. Smith won 10 premierships for the Demons as a player and coach, clocked up 546 goals, and is regarded as one of the game’s greats, with the grand final best-on-ground award named after him. McVee’s old No.41 guernsey has been given to one of the Demons’ newest recruits, Kynan Brown, who was drafted with the father-son rule as the son of former Demons defender Nathan Brown, who first wore No.41 when he arrived at the Dees.