But he wasn’t expecting what happened next - the chance to wear the number 32 guernsey - his ‘Pa’s’ number.
To watch the interview with Harvey Stevens and Michael Talia on BulldogsTV's Official YouTube Channel, click here.
Talia has jumped at this honour and while he is keen to make the number his own, he hopes the good luck rubs off on him as he embarks on his AFL career at the Bulldogs.
The number 32 guernsey was generously donated by Patrick Veszpremi when he heard of the family connection.
“[Development Manager] Chris Maple came up to me and said Patty Vezspremi has offered you 32,” Talia said.
“I jumped at the chance of that straight away; to wear the premiership jumper that my pa wore, I couldn’t have asked for anything more or a better initiation at the club.”
His Grandfather, Harvey Stevens, tuned into the National Draft via the radio and worried about Talia’s chances as the numbers continued to rise.
He then noticed a lull right before the Western Bulldogs were set to make their selection.
“There was a bit of a lull when the Western Bulldogs time came up and we thought what is going on there,” Stevens said, “…Then Michael’s name came up and it was wonderful.
“We were very pleased right through the whole family.”
Stevens, who played 72 games for Footscray including the Bulldogs only Premiership in 1954, was reunited with Whitten Oval this week as he came to see his grandson settle in.
Whitten Oval has completely transformed since Stevens’ day and so has the style of football he said.
“Boy, if we only had these facilities… we would go in and there was a shower and a big square bath wel used to sometimes all hop in to get the mud off us but we enjoyed every minute of it, no doubt about that,” he said.
“I think the whole game has changed totally, the game in the ruck has certainly changed.
“Those days we had four ruckmen in the team and usually you would change into the forward or the back pocket.
“But when it is all said and done it is all about whoever kicks the goals.”
When asked to offer advice to his grandson Stevens did not hesitate to offer some words of wisdom.
“You can’t tell them much these days but the tips that I gave him was this is the easy part, getting there but you have got to be able to stay there. That is the tip I always give all the boys,” he said.
To view Michael Talia's Player Profile, please click here.
