2026 Melbourne numbers —

1. Steven May

2. Jacob van Rooyen

3. Christian Salem

4. Harvey Langford

5. Xavier Lindsay

6. Caleb Windsor

7. Jack Viney

8. Jake Lever

9. Jack Steele

10. Daniel Turner

11. Max Gawn

12. Koltyn Tholstrup

13. Jai Culley

14. Changkuoth Jiath

15. Ed Langdon

16. Bailey Laurie

17. Jake Bowey

18. Jake Melksham 

19. Xavier Taylor

20. Thomas Matthews

21. Matt Jefferson

22. Blake Howes

23. Shane McAdam

24. Trent Rivers

25. Tom McDonald

26. Jed Adams

27. Max Heath

28. Brody Mihocek

29. Tom Campbell

30. Harry Sharp

31. Bayley Fritsch

32. Tom Sparrow

33. Latrelle Sumner-Pickett

34. Kalani White

35. Harry Petty

36. Kysaiah Pickett

37. Kade Chandler

38. Oscar Berry

39. Ricky Mentha Jnr

40. Riley Onley

42. Aidan Johnson 

43 Jack Henderson

44. Luker Kentfield

45. Andy Moniz-Wakefield

So it is the early stages of the off season and I thought a nearest the pin might be interesting. We have already seen some existing players change numbers and it got me thinking what the new players numbers will be. Complete declaration (I Have No Idea) but feel free to have a go

Currently available numbers

9,14,19,20,27,28,33,34,38,40,41,46

Berry - 40 High number for a rookie

Heath - 28 seems to be a Ruck number at the Dees

Jiath - 20 - will suit him

Matthews - 9 Smaller than Spargs hope the jumper is not too baggy

Mihocek - 41 keeps his number

Onley - 33 - looks like a 33

Pickett - 38 - near Cuz in the dressing rooms

Steele - 14 - The usual St Kilda recruit number

Taylor - 27 - Has the right frame for a big number

White - 34 - well der Fred

Re-allocated - unconfirmed

Kentfield - 19 they are talking him up, wouldn't be surprised if he moves up

1 minute ago, Salems Lot said:

So it is the early stages of the off season and I thought a nearest the pin might be interesting. We have already seen some existing players change numbers and it got me thinking what the new players numbers will be. Complete declaration (I Have No Idea) but feel free to have a go

Currently available numbers

9,14,19,20,27,28,33,34,38,40,41,46

Berry - 40 High number for a rookie

Heath - 28 seems to be a Ruck number at the Dees

Jiath - 20 - will suit him

Matthews - 9 Smaller than Spargs hope the jumper is not too baggy

Mihocek - 41 keeps his number

Onley - 33 - looks like a 33

Pickett - 38 - near Cuz in the dressing rooms

Steele - 14 - The usual St Kilda recruit number

Taylor - 27 - Has the right frame for a big number

White - 34 - well der Fred

Re-allocated - unconfirmed

Kentfield - 19 they are talking him up, wouldn't be surprised if he moves up

You've been snookered by the club which has issued the real numbers (see above).

22 minutes ago, Whispering_Jack said:

You've been snookered by the club which has issued the real numbers (see above).

And I wasn't even close!!

On 10/11/2025 at 17:02, Harvey Wallbanger said:

Lock in 4, 5, 14 and 38 as above, and Steele in 9 of course.

Culley lusting after 13.

19 and 20 for Picks 7 and 8.

There's a pattern emerging - 3 and (?) available for 19 and 20 next year....

Almost nailed it - except that Latrelle took 33 (and Matthews took 20).

Jeff White and his son have proven the bond that a footy club like MFC can have. It’s great to see 👏👏

With the recent, season eve, retirement of Steven May the number 1 guernsey is available again.

Famously worn by team of the century ruckman Denis Cordner.

Would we consider giving this to another high draft pick or rest it for the season?

My preference would be to give it to Xavier Taylor currently wearing the number 19.

9 hours ago, Lowly_Worm said:

With the recent, season eve, retirement of Steven May the number 1 guernsey is available again.

Famously worn by team of the century ruckman Denis Cordner.

Would we consider giving this to another high draft pick or rest it for the season?

My preference would be to give it to Xavier Taylor currently wearing the number 19.

My idea was we wait and give it to Bailey humphrey

11 hours ago, Lowly_Worm said:

With the recent, season eve, retirement of Steven May the number 1 guernsey is available again.

Famously worn by team of the century ruckman Denis Cordner.

Would we consider giving this to another high draft pick or rest it for the season?

My preference would be to give it to Xavier Taylor currently wearing the number 19.

My preference would be to leave Taylor in 19 for his (hopefully illustrious) career with us, and give 1 to whoever joins us in the next off season.

11 hours ago, Lowly_Worm said:

With the recent, season eve, retirement of Steven May the number 1 guernsey is available again.

Famously worn by team of the century ruckman Denis Cordner.

Would we consider giving this to another high draft pick or rest it for the season?

My preference would be to give it to Xavier Taylor currently wearing the number 19.

Maybe Paddy Cross will put his hand up for it.

On 23/11/2025 at 17:11, Go Ds said:

I must admit while it'd be an honour for a player to get former superstars' number (regardless of why they left) I too would rather see those numbers rested at least next year. Also while being assigned a single-digit number would be cool again I agree with the idea of Langford, as one example, sticking to #19. But why, oh why, are big numbers so bad? I don't get how a number like 16 is good but reversed 61 is some kind of insult. We're not talking about football boots or a weights program either of which might affect a player's form.

There are potentially 99 numbers available - using more of them makes it easy at times to rest numbers and/ or reserve some so that Gawn's 11 or Robbie Flower's 2 isn't just handed to the rookie list champion under-18s rollerblader who could be anything, but probably nothing. How cool would it be if some player took number 53 or 72 or 97 and a few years later are a much loved and well above average player and even for a few years after "Willow Jans-Heston" finishes on 286 games his number 97 is still seen on the jumpers of Demons supporters (or Swan or Bulldogs or whichever)? Unlike nearly any other number 97 would automatically be associated with this player for AFL fans, and some of the general public. I'd love it if a rookie decided to be different and made a high number something. Xavier Taylor for #79! 🙂

Do jumper numbers also reflect locker numbers in the changing rooms at the MCG and wherever we train? If so, there is presumably a limit on lockers available and therefore numbers. Also, that would mean there is some opportunity to put players needing numbers near particular players that may mentor them, should a vacancy be available.

Having said that, and as I've said before, I don't like (1) players switching numbers during their careers and (2) the club allocating numbers in a manner that would suggest to players that the club doesn't have confidence in their ability. By giving draft picks and rookies numbers in the 40s, the club has already signalled to those players that it has a lack of confidence in them. If I were Kynan Brown or Taj Woewodin, I would have felt that I was up against it from the moment my jumper number was announced.

34 minutes ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

Do jumper numbers also reflect locker numbers in the changing rooms at the MCG and wherever we train? If so, there is presumably a limit on lockers available and therefore numbers. Also, that would mean there is some opportunity to put players needing numbers near particular players that may mentor them, should a vacancy be available.

Having said that, and as I've said before, I don't like (1) players switching numbers during their careers and (2) the club allocating numbers in a manner that would suggest to players that the club doesn't have confidence in their ability. By giving draft picks and rookies numbers in the 40s, the club has already signalled to those players that it has a lack of confidence in them. If I were Kynan Brown or Taj Woewodin, I would have felt that I was up against it from the moment my jumper number was announced.

Or maybe they could have felt lucky they were sons of Demon greats and got a chance at the big time.

2 hours ago, poita said:

Maybe Paddy Cross will put his hand up for it.

He has been given 41.

19 hours ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

Do jumper numbers also reflect locker numbers in the changing rooms at the MCG and wherever we train? If so, there is presumably a limit on lockers available and therefore numbers. Also, that would mean there is some opportunity to put players needing numbers near particular players that may mentor them, should a vacancy be available.

Having said that, and as I've said before, I don't like (1) players switching numbers during their careers and (2) the club allocating numbers in a manner that would suggest to players that the club doesn't have confidence in their ability. By giving draft picks and rookies numbers in the 40s, the club has already signalled to those players that it has a lack of confidence in them. If I were Kynan Brown or Taj Woewodin, I would have felt that I was up against it from the moment my jumper number was announced.

I'd say you're right about locker numbers. I guess each club has at least 50 of them. While I guess it's handy that if a player gets number seven and six and eight are the leaders of the midfield it might help slightly. But surely people don't just have to stand around their lockers. I'm sure I've learned things from people in cubicles more than right next to mine and there'll be so many ways an opportunities for number 47 to speak to number three and number seven and the captain and so forth.

While someone like van Rooyen getting Robert flower's jumper or Gawn getting Stynes' would have pleased them I'm not quite sure I can agree with your point. I'm sure every long-term club has famous, celebrated players with numbers in the 30s and forties that woule almost feel insulted that apparently wearing their number on one's back is belittling. Maybe new recruits each year can get the lowest jumper numbers with the first recruited getting the lowest and the latest getting the highest of those. But even then there is a slight hierarchy with draft picks and I'm sure at times the first 38 numbers are already taken come pre-season so no matter what some new recruits are going to have numbers around the 40 mark.

I reckon a lot of us would have been to uni and honestly once you're there you're in a course and no one cares what score you got in year 12 , or if you're now in medicine after having to do two years of an arts degree to reach the same "level". I would say, and I would hope, that the moment a recruit starts at a club as much as possible everyone treats him as a potential Superstar. I don't think Brown can complain that he didn't make it because of a jumper number. I'm sure the occasional player even was spurred on more to show his club that him in number 43 could be a champion.

Don't change horses mid race.

Give it to someone next year.

On 05/03/2026 at 11:17, titan_uranus said:

My preference would be to leave Taylor in 19 for his (hopefully illustrious) career with us, and give 1 to whoever joins us in the next off season.

Reggie loves his #19 allocation. He was expecting to be given a number in the 40s.

@Ghostwriter any clue who’s taking #1?

3 minutes ago, GawnOfTheDead said:

@Ghostwriter any clue who’s taking #1?

I’ve not heard anything around the traps. Official jumper presentation was conducted on Monday afternoon so I’m guessing #1 will be vacant this season.

I doubt we'll see anyone in #1 this year and that it will be allocated to somebody next season.

On 05/03/2026 at 13:10, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

the club allocating numbers in a manner that would suggest to players that the club doesn't have confidence in their ability. By giving draft picks and rookies numbers in the 40s, the club has already signalled to those players that it has a lack of confidence in them.

But they can’t all have numbers from one to 30. Some have to have numbers in the 40s.

1 hour ago, Ghostwriter said:

Reggie loves his #19 allocation. He was expecting to be given a number in the 40s.

We hear a lot about Latrelle but how is Xavier settling in @Ghostwriter ? Getting along with the young group? Thanks

43 minutes ago, Greg Schneider said:

We hear a lot about Latrelle but how is Xavier settling in @Ghostwriter ? Getting along with the young group? Thanks

He’s settling in very well for such a new addition to the team. He’s a confident, outgoing boy and is popular among the other young players. He enjoys training and is always enthusiastic about it. I’d say Tommy Matthews and CJ are his closest buddies. He can be given to cheekiness but Kingy doesn’t have a problem with it since he wants the boys to be themselves. Kingy emphasises his point of wanting the players to work hard but just as importantly, to have fun while doing so. Reggie fits the bill.

13 minutes ago, Ghostwriter said:

He’s settling in very well for such a new addition to the team. He’s a confident, outgoing boy and is popular among the other young players. He enjoys training and is always enthusiastic about it. I’d say Tommy Matthews and CJ are his closest buddies. He can be given to cheekiness but Kingy doesn’t have a problem with it since he wants the boys to be themselves. Kingy emphasises his point of wanting the players to work hard but just as importantly, to have fun while doing so. Reggie fits the bill.

Awesome, thanks for the insight

1 hour ago, Ghostwriter said:

But they can’t all have numbers from one to 30. Some have to have numbers in the 40s.

True. But it's been clear for many years that the club allocates lower numbers to "premium" players and numbers in the 40s to "fringe" players. I accept that for some players who receive a jumper in the 40s it may make them work that much harder. But it's also possible that players with numbers in the 40s might have their confidence shaken if they see the number allocation as an implied criticism of their capabilities.

It's not helped, by the way, by "promoting" Langford and Lindsay from 19 and 20 to 4 and 5 respectively.