ActionScript 3.0 :: Imported Class Reference And Static Variables

I'm trying to make methods available like so:
ActionScript Code:
MyClass.myFunc();
Instead of
ActionScript Code:
var myVar:MyClass = new MyClass();
myVar.myFunc();

I know that to do so I need to declare the functions/variables/constants as static:
ActionScript Code:
package MyPackage {
public class MyClass extends Object {
public static function myFunc():void {
} public function MyClass() {
[Code] .....

When I try to access the static function through the full reference (i.e trace(MyPackage.MyClass.myFunc);), it works, while trace(MyClass.myFunc); returns undefined. This contradicts what I've read in tutorials and posts on the Internet. They all use the short syntax, not the full path.