JAYDEN Hunt became the 1326^th player to play for Melbourne when he made his AFL debut against Collingwood at the MCG on Sunday.

In the process, Hunt became the fifth player to don the red and blue for the first time this season – and the third to make their AFL debut with Melbourne.

In round one, former Giant Tomas Bugg and ex-Magpie Ben Kennedy played their first game with their new club, as Clayton Oliver made his AFL debut with Melbourne. Oliver topped off his 22-disposal performance with the first NAB AFL Rising Star nomination for the season and has since showed what an exciting future he has.

In round three, Queenslander Josh Wagner made his AFL debut against North Melbourne at Blundstone Arena, after starting the year on the rookie list.

And when Hunt ran out on the ‘G on the weekend, the 21-year-old followed in the footsteps of his uncle Andrew Moir, who also wore No.29 for Melbourne and played 73 matches from 1977-81.

On top of that, Hunt’s great uncle Harold Rumney was a five-time premiership player with Collingwood. Rumney was a member of the famous four in a row from 1927-30 and unless Hawthorn can add its fourth successive flag this year, then the Collingwood team of 1927-30 will remain the only club in history to have achieved that feat.  

If Hunt can one day join his great uncle, who played 186 VFL/AFL matches for Carlton (15 matches) and Collingwood (171), and become a premiership player for Melbourne, it will only add to their family’s football story.

However, one of the stories to emerge from Melbourne’s win was the contribution from its five new players. And it was another pointer to the club’s improvement.

Bugg and Kennedy – the two players with AFL experience – were among Melbourne’s best. They gathered more than 50 disposals combined, with Bugg winning 29 touches, including 14 contested possessions. He also had a team-high nine tackles and Kennedy had 22 touches, plus a goal.

Oliver, who has impressed considerably in just four AFL matches, had eight tackles against the Pies. Wagner was arguably one of Melbourne’s best against the Pies with 24 disposals.

Hunt showed genuine dash on debut and had four rebounds. He will only get better and better – make no mistake.

The five inclusions reinforced the importance of recruiting and development and it was yet another tick for the club’s list management/recruiters, including Todd Viney, Jason Taylor, Kelly O’Donnell, Tim Lamb and Darren Farrugia.

Coach Paul Roos also spoke of the injection of new players after the win, saying Wagner played “really well” against the Pies and Hunt “did some crucial things”.

Skipper Nathan Jones added that Wagner had made the most of his opportunity in his first two matches and that Hunt had earned his promotion through sheer hard work, after two injury-riddled seasons, mostly due to back problems.

“I’m absolutely pumped for him (Hunt). That’s the byproduct of putting in a really strong pre-season and backing himself in,” he said.

“I think most importantly … he’s come in off some really strong VFL form and we saw that with Josh Wagner last week and then Hunty – he just looked like he belonged out there. He fitted in seamlessly down back.

“He’s (Hunt) got some terrific attributes and I think he’s in for a long career, if he continues on the road he’s on.”

It could be the case for all five.