As the Sydney Swans celebrate Heritage Week and Tom Papley prepares for a blockbuster clash against the ladder-leading Western Bulldogs on Sunday afternoon, he reflects on his pride in donning the number 11 jumper.

Papley's grandfather, Max, is a custodian of the number 11 guernsey, having played 59 games and kicked 66 goals with South Melbourne between 1964-1967.

After two years in number 41 Papley switched to number 11 following Jeremy Laidler’s retirement, following in the footsteps of his grandfather.

Max is the patriarch in a family which includes two other grandsons who have played in the AFL.

"There are a few players like Peter Bedford, Stuart Maxfield and obviously Max, my grandfather - there are a few good names on the locker room wall and it's exactly why I changed to the number 11," he said.

"I play with real pride when I put it on, it's a good part of history and I love running out in the number 11 just like my grandfather.

"It does make me reflect a little bit, but it's more for when I finish - I will get to say I wore the same number as him, and I'll also be on the locker with him now that I've played over 100 games for the club.

"My name will go up on the locker so when that happens, I just can't wait to see it alongside Max's name."

Ben Ross played 14 games with North Melbourne in 2008-2009 and four games with Hawthorn in 2014, with career bests of 25 possessions and one goal. And Michael Ross played two goal-less games with Essendon in 2011 for a best of 25 disposals.

All are a part of a sizeable family of Max and Laraine Papley, who have four children, 12 grand children and one great grandchild.

And they are a part of a football history which goes back to the late 1950s when Max Papley, born on July 31, 1940 and a life-long South Melbourne fan, attended South Melbourne Technical School, the same school as childhood hero Bob Skilton.

Oddly, he began his career with the Melbourne Fourths, or under-17s, and at 179 centimetres was told by his coach he was too small.

He played at Port Melbourne YMCA before joining VFA club Moorabbin when the family had moved into the area.

He played as a small full-forward and quickly became one of the VFA’s premier players. He played 96 games in five years with the club, and captained Moorabbin to the 1963 VFA flag, kicking six goals in the Grand Final.

In February 1964 he was cleared to South Melbourne to begin a career that would span four years in the then VFL from 1964-1967, during which time he played at half-forward and in the centre. He won the best and fairest in 1966 and was a Victorian representative.

He finished his career at South Melbourne at 27 when appointed captain-coach of VFA club Williamstown. He led the club to the Grand Final in each of his first three years, won the second-division premiership in 1969 and captained the VFA against Tasmania in 1968.

After retiring in 1970 he stayed on as coach until 1972, playing a handful of comeback games in 1972, and in 2003 was named in the centre in the Williamstown Team of the Century, which also included Swans champion Barry Round in the first ruck.

Max Papley played his entire career at South Melbourne in jumper number 11, and after two years in number 41 Tom Papley switched to number 11 last year following Jeremy Laidler’s retirement.

It is a famous Swans number, worn most often for the club by former captain Stuart Maxfield (200 games).

Next best on the number 11 games list is Brownlow medallist Peter Bedford (178), Team of the Century member Mark Browning (174) and Jim Dorgan, who in 1957 was Club Champion and third in the Brownlow Medal.

Bob Pratt, the club’s leading all-time goal-kicker, played his first three years and 50 games in number 11, and the legendary Roy Cazaly played his last four years and 67 games in number 11.