Melbourne son of a gun Kalani White is set to inherit his Dad's number 34 guernsey in 2026.
The Demons listed White as a pre-selected rookie under the father-son rule after the teen was nominated for the draft as a father-son, having also had the option to nominate as a Gold Coast Academy product.
Jeff White played all 236 of his games as a Demon in the number 34 jersey and took to social media to express his pride at seeing his son wear the same number.
"I just want to express my heartfelt thanks to Melbourne for passing down the number 34 to Kalani," Jeff said.
"This means so much to him, to our family, and of course, to his Dad.
"Two years ago, the club told us that if Kalani was ever drafted, the 34 would be his.
"True to their word, they've honoured that promise.
"Numbers carry history. They carry meaning. And now my son gets to hold a locker with his name under the 34.
"To the Melbourne Football Club, Tim Lamb, Jase Taylor and the board - THANK YOU.
"I once told Kalani ‘mate, you can choose your own number when you play footy, you don't have to take 34.
"He looked at me and said, "Dad…34 is our number."
Speaking to Melbourne Demons media, White expressed his excitement to don the digits, having had a taste of wearing the colours earlier in 2025 for Melbourne's VFL affiliate, Casey.
"It's pretty surreal wearing the number my Dad wore throughout his 10-year career (at Melbourne), so it's good to keep the tradition going," Kalani said.
"He's said to go out there, train your hardest and enjoy every moment.
"I've got all the boys around me and all the support, so it's been really good."
