MELBOURNE has finalised its guernsey numbers for 2012, after the selection of Jai Sheahan, Tom Couch, James Magner and Leigh Williams in Tuesday’s NAB AFL Rookie Draft.

 

Couch will wear No.47, Magner (No.49), Sheahan (No.50) and Williams (No.51).

 

Couch has inherited the number worn most recently by James Strauss. Strauss has moved to No.19 in 2012 - the same number he was drafted at in the 2009 NAB AFL Draft.

 

Magner has claimed No.49, which was Daniel Nicholson’s before he recently switched to No.26.

 

With Michael Evans moving to No.32, Sheahan has been given his previous No.50.  

 

The highest number next year has been handed to Leigh Williams, who has No.51.

 

It’s a number that has not been seen for Melbourne in an AFL match since John Howat donned the guernsey in 1989.

 

Howat played five matches in the No.51 jumper in 1989, before adding 15 games in the No.28 guernsey. He then moved to Richmond, playing from 1993-96 with the Tigers. He finished with 65 AFL matches to his name.

 

The most recent Melbourne player to be given No.51 was Cameron Bruce for the 2000 season. But he didn’t end up wearing the number in an AFL match. Instead, he moved to No.32 when a handful of players switched numbers in the lead-up to the 2000 season.

 

No.1 (most recently worn by Matthew Warnock), No.29 (Michael Newton), No.31 (Tom Scully) and No.33 (Austin Wonaeamirri) were all worn in 2011, but will be vacant next year.

 

Former captain James McDonald last wore No.23 in 2010. It hasn’t been used since.

 

Previously, Melbourne gave big-name recruit Mitch Clark, who was claimed from Brisbane Lions via the exchange period, Jim Stynes’ famous No.11 guernsey.

 

Five players also changed to lower numbers: 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).

 

NAB AFL Draftees James Sellar (No.30), Rory Taggert (No.43) and Josh Tynan (No.46) also recently gained their numbers.  

 

 
1. -
2. Nathan Jones
3. Clint Bartram
4. Jack Watts
5. Jordan Gysberts
6. Matthew Bate
7. Jamie Bennell
8. James Frawley
9. Jack Trengove
10. Cale Morton
11. Mitch Clark
12. Colin Sylvia
13. Jordie McKenzie
14. Lynden Dunn
15. Ricky Petterd
16. Jack Grimes
17. Sam Blease
18. Brad Green
19. James Strauss
20. Colin Garland
21. Lucas Cook
22. Brent Moloney
23. -
24. Liam Jurrah
25. Tom McDonald
26. Daniel Nicholson
27. Jared Rivers
28. Joel Macdonald
29. -
30. James Sellar
31. -
32. Michael Evans
33. -
34. Stefan Martin
35. Luke Tapscott
36. Aaron Davey  
37. Max Gawn
38. Jeremy Howe
39. Neville Jetta
40. Mark Jamar
41. Troy Davis
42. Jake Spencer

43. Rory Taggert

44. Rohan Bail

45. Kelvin Lawrence

46. Josh Tynan

47. Tom Couch

48. Jack Fitzpatrick

49. James Magner

50. Jai Sheahan

51. Leigh Williams