MELBOURNE has allocated its first lot of guernsey numbers for 2016.
Former Bomber Jake Melksham will wear No.18, previously worn by Daniel Cross, who retired at the end of last season and is now the club’s development and rehab coach.
Ex-Giant Tomas Bugg has claimed the No.32 jumper, which was vacant in 2015.
Ben Kennedy, who crossed from Collingwood, has taken No.35, which was not filled this year.
Rookie Joel Smith has inherited No.44, which Rohan Bail wore for 70 of his 71 matches with the Demons from 2010-15. For the record, Bail holds the record for the most Melbourne matches in No.44. He also wore No.41 in his first game and only match in 2009.
Two of Melbourne’s best players from the 2000s, Brad Green and Cameron Bruce, wore No.18 and No.32 respectively. Green (254 matches) and Bruce, who played 224 for the Dees, have played the most games for Melbourne in those numbers.
Dual Melbourne premiership captain Noel McMahen wore No.35 in his outstanding career. Melbourne Cricket Club chairman Steven Smith and 1981 best and fairest winner also wore No.35 for most of his career at the Demons, before finishing in No.1.
There has been just one change in players switching numbers from 2015 to next year, with 2014 No.2 NAB AFL Draft pick Christian Petracca moving from No.26 to No.5. He has taken over No.5 from Jimmy Toumpas, who has switched to Port Adelaide.
The No.5 jumper has been worn by distinguished club names such as Keith ‘Bluey’ Truscott, Fred Fanning and David Schwarz.
Petracca, who is an avid NBA follower, requested No.5 to be close in initials and number to one of his NBA heroes Chris Paul (aka CP3), who plays for the Los Angeles Clippers. Will Petracca now be known as CP5?
The No.13 jumper, worn by Jordie McKenzie this year, has not been filled at this stage. Other vacant numbers at the moment include No.26 (Petracca), No.27 (Aidan Riley), No.38 (Jeremy Howe) and No.40 (Mark Jamar).
2016 Melbourne numbers
1 – Jesse Hogan
2 – Nathan Jones
3 – Christian Salem
4 – Jack Watts
5 – Christian Petracca
6 – Chris Dawes
7 – Jack Viney
8 – Heritier Lumumba
9 – Jack Trengove
10 – Angus Brayshaw
11 – Max Gawn
12 – Dom Tyson
13 –
14 – Lynden Dunn
15 – Billy Stretch
16 – Dean Kent
17 – Sam Frost
18 – Jake Melksham
19 – Ben Newton
20 – Colin Garland
21 – Cameron Pedersen
22 – Please note: Viv Michie wore No.22 in 2015. He was recently delisted by the club, but it is intending to redraft him via the NAB AFL Rookie Draft. The club has held No.22 for him for 2016.
23 – Bernie Vince
24 – Jay Kennedy-Harris
25 – Tom McDonald
26 –
27 –
28 – Oscar McDonald
29 – Jayden Hunt
30 – Alex Neal-Bullen
31 – Jack Grimes
32 – Tomas Bugg
33 –
34 –
35 – Ben Kennedy
36 – Jeff Garlett
37 – Aaron Vandenberg
38 –
39 – Neville Jetta
40 –
41 – Mitchell White
42 – Jake Spencer
43 – James Harmes
44 – Joel Smith
45 – Matt Jones
46 – Dean Terlich
47 – Max King
