From one defender to another, Carlton’s No. 40 guernsey will once again grace the footy field in 2017.
Following the retirement of 150-gamer Michael Jamison, his younger counterpart Jesse Glass-McCasker has been bestowed his number, and he “couldn’t be happier”.
When the 19-year-old cheekily sent ‘Jamo’ a photo alluding to his ‘new jumper number’, Glass-McCasker was over the moon with the veteran’s response.
“I sent him a snapchat just mucking around with a photo of the No. 40 locker, saying ‘here is my new locker’, and he messaged me straight after saying he’d be rapt if I took it (the No. 40) – so I was pretty happy,” Glass-McCasker said.
“I lived with Jamo last year and he’s been my idol for a while. He took me under his wing when I first arrived at the Club, so I thought it was pretty cool – it means a lot.”
There are many similarities between Jamison and Glass-McCasker, with both players starting their careers as rookies and playing as defenders.
Jamison celebrates his 150th AFL game with fellow milestone man Kade Simpson earlier this year.
“He was a rookie as well, so I thought it would be cool to follow in his footsteps and hopefully be as good as he was.
“He taught me everything. Coming in I wasn’t too experienced with footy – I’d only been playing for two years or so – so I just watched him closely with his work both inside and outside the Club.
Glass-McCasker played 14 games for the Northern Blues in his first season, playing a solid role in defence.
The young tall will no doubt work hard during pre-season as he strives to make his senior debut.
“I’ve been strengthening my body work and endurance, so hopefully I’d love to play in Round 1.”
To read more about Carlton’s number reveals, click here.
