It’s difficult to imagine the buzz of excitement that courses through a player’s body when Adam Simpson says ‘so Hammer, what does the number 255, mean to you?’

He knows exactly what it means, but can’t get a word out for a few seconds; one, because reality bites and two, because his teammates celebrate loudly at the announcement.

For Hamish Brayshaw the news that he would make his debut against St Kilda at the Gabba tomorrow night was delivered at the team meeting inside the high performance centre at Sanctuary Cove.

He will be the 255th player to represent the club. He’s stoked.

Twenty four hours later he was handed his No.22 guernsey by Drew Petrie, a legend of North Melbourne where Hamish’s father Mark played, and who spent his final year in senior football with the West Coast Eagles.

Petrie never played with Mark, but he did run out with Hamish when he was called upon to help alleviate a dearth of tall talent in the club’s inaugural stand-alone season in the WAFL last year. Petrie said he enjoyed playing alongside Brayshaw, who will become the third of the brothers, behind Angus (Melbourne) and Andrew (Fremantle), to play senior football.

Petrie knew what Brayshaw would bring. His teammates know what he will add tomorrow night.

A popular member of the squad, a big personality to match the size of his midfield frame, he will bring energy and passion to the team.

After being drafted with selection 69 in the 2017 ballot he has been vigilant in getting to this moment; sometimes questioning whether it would actually eventuate.

As has become customary at this time, Hamish’s parents, Mark and Debra, were Skyped into the guernsey presentation. They would have been bursting with pride. Parents of players ride the wave with their sons and they know how hard he has worked for this opportunity.

A tough competitor with a thirst for the contest, he gets his chance in a midfield that has been decimated by the injuries to stars like captain Luke Shuey (hamstring), Elliot Yeo (groin) and Jack Redden (thumb).

But he has been ready for a while.

Players on the fringe have had only “scrimmages” against opposition clubs to press their claims and those contests have been sporadic because of the injury toll endured by every club during this extraordinarily compact period of matches.

He has excelled. His energy has been up, his output high. Now the club needs him to transfer that to the highest level.