AS PART of his new role as general manager of club development, Chris Connolly has played a key part in allocating guernsey numbers to existing and new players for 2012.
Connolly researched and recommended several numbers and quickly found that each number had its own story.
Since then, Melbourne, via Connolly’s input, has given five players new numbers, as another four have gained red and blue guernseys for the first time.
The changes are Sam Blease from No.46 to No.17, James Strauss (No.47 to No.19), Tom McDonald (No.43 to No.25), Dan Nicholson (No.49 to No.26) and Michael Evans (No.50 to No.32).
Boom recruit Mitch Clark has been given the great Jimmy Stynes’ No.11, while draftees James Sellar will wear No.30, Rory Taggert (No.43) and Josh Tynan (No.46).
Although Clark’s acquisition of No.11 rightly gained prominence, Connolly highlighted Tom McDonald’s inheritance of No.25 as an underrated story.
The No.25 guernsey may not immediately spring to mind for Melbourne supporters - like another four: No.2 (think Robert Flower), No.9 (David Neitz) or No.31 (Ron Barassi) - but there is plenty of success associated with it.
“No.25 has gone through seven premierships and it was worn by Colin McLean, who played in two premierships in 1940-41 and Don Williams, one of the all-time greats,” Connolly told melbournefc.com.au.
“People wouldn’t realise this about Don, but Hassa Mann told me the other day that Don played in the 1955 premiership and then had to make a choice about playing the next year.
“Don was a national high jumping champion and he had to decide whether to compete in the 1956 Melbourne Olympics at the MCG or continue on with football.
“He continued on with football and he played in five premierships, but missed the 1960 premiership. He left the club, but returned to play in 1964.”
Connolly’s passion for Williams’ career is justified.
Although he wasn’t underrated in his era, Williams arguably is in today’s football annals.
Consider this.
Williams is one of just 21 players - from 12,015 VFL/AFL players - to have played in five premierships or more. He is also one of eight Melbourne players to achieve this feat. For the record, Frank Adams and Ron Barassi played in six premierships each - one behind Hawthorn’s Michael Tuck, who is the only player in VFL/AFL history to have played in seven premierships.
It’s a remarkable achievement.
Connolly certainly didn’t compare McDonald, who was drafted from North Ballarat Rebels at No.53 in the 2010 NAB AFL Draft, with Williams.
But he did anoint McDonald with No.25, as he believed Williams and McLean’s legacy warranted a defender in that jumper today.
“That number was given to Tommy McDonald, who we think is going to be a fantastic defender,” he said of the 19-year-old, who made his debut in 2011 and played two matches.
“No.25 hasn’t had a great volume of players achieve a lot in that number, but it’s had two players that have stood out.
“Tom McDonald is coming through the ranks. He’s a utility who can play in a lot of different positions, but he certainly showed in his first year that he can play across half-back.
“We think he’s got fantastic characteristics as a player and person. We really wanted him to take on that number and bring it to life, because we think he’ll be at the Melbourne Football Club for quite a while.”
Connolly summarises Melbourne’s other number changes for 2012
No.17 - Sam Blease
“No.17 is one of our most famous numbers. It would be in our top echelon of numbers. It’s one we’ve had on hold. We know Sam Blease has a relationship with that number through his father, who died under tragic circumstances with Sam present. But that number was worn by Albert Chadwick, who played in one premiership and played 141 games from 1920-28. Allan Fontaine also played in three premierships and won four best and fairest - he’s one of our greats. Also, Brett Lovett, who has played the most games in that jumper, played 235 matches. It’s a special number and Sam was an early draft pick. The connection was with his father, so we did have that number on hold with that link.”
No.19 - James Strauss
No.19 - James Strauss
“That number has primarily been a defender’s number over a period of time. It was worn by Ray Biffin from 1968-79 and he played 170 games. Keith Carroll also wore it in two premierships and Harry Coy played full-back and Joe Pearce played in defence in that number. If you look at No.19, it has been used by a number of defenders. James Strauss is a rebounding defender, so he fits that window.”
No.26 - Daniel Nicholson
No.26 - Daniel Nicholson
“Daniel Nicholson has received No.26, which was worn by Ian Thorogood in three premierships and Noel Clarke wore it in one premiership. Greg Parke also wore it from 1968-73 for 119 games. It was strongly linked in with Ian Thorogood, who was a great stalwart and became an AFL coach in his own right.”
No.30 - James Sellar
No.30 - James Sellar
“We have a philosophy that if a player has already achieved AFL football when he comes to the club, he’ll get a lower number and this is a significant number for us, with eight premierships containing that number. Alby Rodda wore it in three premierships and John Beckwith was a dual premiership captain in No.30. John played in five premierships with Melbourne and became one of our all-time greats. Peter Moore won the 1984 Brownlow Medal in No.30, so we’ve had a ruckman, defender and rover wear the number with success. James Sellar will play a lot of different roles within the team, so that number was handed to him.”
No.32 - Michael Evans
No.32 - Michael Evans
“Most recently, No.32 was worn by Cameron Bruce. It’s an underrated number for the club, as Barrie Vagg played in a premiership and Lenny Dockett won the club champion and played in a premiership from 1946-51. Dick Hingston also wore it in two premierships and Gordon Ogden played 134 games.”
