6, 14, 19, 22, 31, 38, 40 and 45 are the vacant jumper numbers for 2017 (assuming there are no swaps of numbers)

2017 Melbourne numbers 

1. Jesse Hogan
2. Nathan Jones
3. Christian Salem
4. Jack Watts
5. Christian Petracca 
7. Jack Viney
8. Heritier Lumumba
9. Jack Trengove
10. Angus Brayshaw 
11. Max Gawn
12. Dom Tyson 
13. Clayton Oliver 
15. Billy Stretch
16. Dean Kent 
17. Sam Frost
18. Jake Melksham
20. Colin Garland
21. Cameron Pedersen
23. Bernie Vince
24. Jay Kennedy-Harris
25. Tom McDonald 
26. Sam Weideman 
27. Liam Hulett 
28. Oscar McDonald
29. Jayden Hunt
30. Alex Neal-Bullen
32. Tomas Bugg 
33. Jake Spencer 
34. Mitch King 
35. Ben Kennedy 
36. Jeff Garlett
37. Aaron Vandenberg 
39. Neville Jetta
41. Mitchell White
42. Josh Wagner
43. James Harmes
44. Joel Smith

Who gets which of the vacant numbers?

#6     Lewis

#14   Hibberd

#38  McKenna

#19.....#22.....New draftees

#31   Rested

Perhaps 31 could become the number given to our captain. It would be a nice tradition and would remove the expectation factor that falls on younger players who are given the number.

 

Perhaps 31 could become the number given to our captain. It would be a nice tradition and would remove the expectation factor that falls on younger players who are given the number.

It has been tried before, that was how Jack Grimes got it, changed from 16 when he was appointed captain. I would not want Nathan Jones to change his number either.

I like #6 for Lewis because he will be twice as good for us, than what he was at Hawthorn

Edited October 21, 20168 yr by Big Kev

Since Ron Barassi left the club at the end of 1964, the number has been cursed. We had Ray Groom take the number in 1965 and he was going well but left at an early age and eventually became Premier of Tasmania (a job that in itself would be a curse, I imagine). Paul Wheatley had a reasonable career but most of our 31's have either been duds or had careers that went backwards after taking the number. 

I agree with resting the number until we win our next premiership. The number has become like the Curse of the Bambino or the Curse of the Goat. It lives side by side with the Norm Smith Curse so let's exorcise it.

When we win a flag in the next couple of years, it can make a comeback.

We assign too much power and superstition to jumper numbers. I'd like to think an individual's performance and the team's destiny have no link to jumper numbers, past or present, in any way.

To be honest, I opened this thread with some excitement combined with disbelief. When I read the title I thought something truly bizarre had happened overnight and we had somehow ended up with picks 6, 14, 19 etc in the draft.

Though I don't really care that much, I suspect the following:

#6: Jordan Lewis (double 3 so makes sense).

#14: Josh Wagner (no reason other than he deserves a lower number).

#19: Michael Hibberd (will get to sit next to his mate in the change rooms).

#22: Pat McKenna

The rest for the new draftees/rookies.

 

To be honest, I opened this thread with some excitement combined with disbelief. When I read the title I thought something truly bizarre had happened overnight and we had somehow ended up with picks 6, 14, 19 etc in the draft.

Lucky thing that the thread doesn't start with a 1 then.

I thought they were the lotto numbers

 

I thought they were the lotto numbers

try them !!!

Won't be surprised if the Weed moves to 6.

Edited October 22, 20168 yr by Fifty-5

It confuses simple minds like mine for the first half dozen games when our more established players change numbers.

Didn't occur to me until just now, but I do find it odd that Spencer currently has 33.  I normally associate that number with highly skilled/running players, not lumbering ruckman.

 

Won't be surprised if the Weed moves to 6.

I wouldn't promote him up that high until he regularly produces at high standard at senior level, so as not to put pressure on him and/or make him earn it a bit.

 

It has been tried before, that was how Jack Grimes got it, changed from 16 when he was appointed captain. I would not want Nathan Jones to change his number either.

I like #6 for Lewis because he will be twice as good for us, than what he was at Hawthorn

so 8 flags coming our way?

 

It has been tried before, that was how Jack Grimes got it, changed from 16 when he was appointed captain. I would not want Nathan Jones to change his number either.

I like #6 for Lewis because he will be twice as good for us, than what he was at Hawthorn

Like Jurrah was only half the player at #24 than he was at #48 ☹️️

6 Lewis

14 McKenna

19 Hibberd (as IDIG suggested. Can be next to his Essendon buddy)

31 Weideman  (bit of irony. The hipsters will like that)

38 Maynard (his old man wore 36, his brother 37. Keep raising that number)

22 & 26 to selections 47 & 69 in tbe draft.

40, 45, 46, 47*

Our three rookie selections

* Potentially extra number needed if Dan Allsop is available for us to take as a Category B Rookie.

 

It confuses simple minds like mine for the first half dozen games when our more established players change numbers.

Didn't occur to me until just now, but I do find it odd that Spencer currently has 33.  I normally associate that number with highly skilled/running players, not lumbering ruckman.

He might currently have the number but he's never worn it in a game. He should try to take back his former number 42.

Give Lewis 6.

It can be the number of flags he aspires to reach.

 

Give Lewis 6.

It can be the number of flags he aspires to reach.

And for the same reason Jack Viney can keep 7.

I always like to see players with a higher number retain it- make it their own. Jamar being a recent example of that; wouldn't be a lot of All Australians with the number 40 on their backs.

I would agree that 31 does seem to be cursed... wouldn't object to Harmes moving to that number as he's a lifelong Dees supporter.

 

Give Lewis 6.

It can be the number of flags he aspires to reach.

 

 

And for the same reason Jack Viney can keep 7.

And Gawnius Maximus 11

 

And for the same reason Jack Viney can keep 7.

Nah, why not his old man's No.?

 

I always like to see players with a higher number retain it- make it their own. Jamar being a recent example of that; wouldn't be a lot of All Australians with the number 40 on their backs.

I would agree that 31 does seem to be cursed... wouldn't object to Harmes moving to that number as he's a lifelong Dees supporter.

I like Harmes in 43.  

Guy Rigoni was a fair player in that number a few years back.

 

 

And Gawnius Maximus 11

Joel smiths gonna have a cracking career then #44