Consideration of symbolism - indeed the thirst for it - has steadily gathered baggage these last 57 years, proxying success and sometimes in a fond hope of creating it.

Now we are gloriously baggage free.

I've been thinking Nathan Jones needs to be recognised in some permanent way. Membership of Saturday's 23 would have sufficed but that wasn't to be.

And Nathan's story of devotion through protracted darkness is uniquely paralleled (possibly slightly surpassed?) by that other Number 2, Robbie Flower, for whom permanent recognition is also due, indeed long over.

Other major sports attach great honour to the retirement of numbers, and to the ceremony and curation that surrounds it, so I'm thinking this might be a fit recognition for Nathan - and Robbie - to suggest to the Club. I think it might have been considered before? But that was while we had baggage. And I don't think there will be future rush on other numbers; what Nathan and Robbie did was of a magnitude apart.

Still, it may be a bridge too far for the Club. At least, then, could Nathan - on his and Robbie's behalf - be charged with the selection of future wearers of Number 2?

Thoughts?

 

Thought about the concept of retiring numbers recently, but decided against it as I love watching Gawn running around in Jimmy's old number etc. 

It's  a shame most of the MFC based awards are already coddled up to a name

I'd like Nathan Jones to be invited to unfurl the Premierhip flag at our first home game next year.

2 minutes ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

I'd like Nathan Jones to be invited to unfurl the Premierhip flag at our first home game next year.

I was thinking similar earlier. First home game next year will be massive for the flag and giving Jonesy a farewell.

Retire the number for 2 years is my suggestion.

I'd love to see the number 2 get handed over, so Nathan jones has a presentation with the new number 2 and hands the jumper over. 

Personally i'd love to see it go to Angus Brayshaw, the selfless and couragous game he played, IMO he turned the game, i'll never forget it

16 minutes ago, Dwight Schrute said:

I'd love to see the number 2 get handed over, so Nathan jones has a presentation with the new number 2 and hands the jumper over. 

Personally i'd love to see it go to Angus Brayshaw, the selfless and couragous game he played, IMO he turned the game, i'll never forget it

Its a nice thought, but I believe in players not changing their numbers and making it their own.  It worked for Gawn, but didn't for Farmer (who went back to his original no.)...

I’d like to see Tom Sparrow get it

If we're lucky enough to salute again in the coming years I would love to see him present the cup on stage.

 

55 minutes ago, Dwight Schrute said:

I'd love to see the number 2 get handed over, so Nathan jones has a presentation with the new number 2 and hands the jumper over. 

Personally i'd love to see it go to Angus Brayshaw, the selfless and couragous game he played, IMO he turned the game, i'll never forget it

I back this, I came here to comment about asking Angus Brayshaw and see if he wants it

I'm not a fan of retiring numbers although "resting" No.2 for a couple of years might be appropriate.

We've rested No. 2 before after Robbie retired. As I recall - and @picket fence might remember, Flower wasn't comfortable with his number being out of action. Eventually he went to training and asked the playing group who thought they were good enough to take it on. A young blonde winger stuck his hand up and said "I'll take it". And Stephen Tingay carried on the No. 2 with great distinction.

Maybe Jonesy can anoint his successor in that great jumper

3 hours ago, Pennant St Dee said:

I’d like to see Tom Sparrow get it

What’s wrong with 32?

3 hours ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

I'd like Nathan Jones to be invited to unfurl the Premierhip flag at our first home game next year.

This please. 

Some great suggestions on here. I never thought about someone else in the team taking it over from Jonesy. But most of the mature crop probably has their own story with their own number by now. From the new lot,  Kozzy #36 has ties to Davey and Garlett, but not sure about Dogga, Bowey, Rivers or Laurie. I'd let Jonesy decide what he wants to do or give it to.

He absolutely has to unfurl the flag. There is nobody else - nobody - that deserves to do this more. Combine that up with a proper farewell

15 minutes ago, Dockett 32 said:

What’s wrong with 32?

There’s nothing wrong with it but Sparrow is a young bull and now a Premiership player. With number 2 now up for grabs, Sparrow may want to move to a lower number (as players like to do). I reckon he’d be deserving of it. 

59 minutes ago, Ethan Tremblay said:

There’s nothing wrong with it but Sparrow is a young bull and now a Premiership player. With number 2 now up for grabs, Sparrow may want to move to a lower number (as players like to do). I reckon he’d be deserving of it. 

I've never understood why this is the case. If I had been a professional AFL player, I'd like to hold on to whatever number I was given for the whole of my career. There have been plenty of great footballers in double digit numbers such as Ron Barassi, Alex Jesaulenko, Robert Walls and Peter Knights, just to name a few that come immediately to mind 

10 minutes ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

I've never understood why this is the case. If I had been a professional AFL player, I'd like to hold on to whatever number I was given for the whole of my career. There have been plenty of great footballers in double digit numbers such as Ron Barassi, Alex Jesaulenko, Robert Walls and Peter Knights, just to name a few that come immediately to mind 

I believe it’s because the lower jumper numbers involve less sewing. 

3 hours ago, Dockett 32 said:

What’s wrong with 32?

Nothing, but whilst they may wish to pave their own path, outside of # 31 I think 2 and 11 hold great significance for the club.

Flower and Jones were shining lights in very dark times for our club

Give it to Adam Cerra.