Jumper Numbers 2025
- Thread starter Jukes
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I don't think I'll ever comprehend people complaining about jumper numbers. I'm willing to bet Baker makes more of an impact in games whilst wearing that number next year than Gaff did in the last three years.
I'm not going to subscribe to the idea that because a jumper was notable for a particular player, that you want it to go to a player you want to replace that role. Gives an idea of expectation that's often too high.
Plus it's subject too much to recency bias. Sure, we thing of 17 now as a key forward - but it was worn for pretty much the same number of games by a club legend on a half back flank. Start at the beginning and #1 has been as variable as ruck Michael Gardiner, full back Mitch Brown and small forward Liam Ryan. Even the hallowed #9 has had mids, rucks and utilities in it.
Let the players make their own history. Acknowledge what went before, but let the next group make their own, unencumbered by expectations from the past.
(In short, let J. Williams be J. Williams in 34, or 3, or 26 or whatever, not tell him we expect him to be J. Kennedy by putting him in 17 or J.Darling by giving him 27, unless he really wants it)
Plus it's subject too much to recency bias. Sure, we thing of 17 now as a key forward - but it was worn for pretty much the same number of games by a club legend on a half back flank. Start at the beginning and #1 has been as variable as ruck Michael Gardiner, full back Mitch Brown and small forward Liam Ryan. Even the hallowed #9 has had mids, rucks and utilities in it.
Let the players make their own history. Acknowledge what went before, but let the next group make their own, unencumbered by expectations from the past.
(In short, let J. Williams be J. Williams in 34, or 3, or 26 or whatever, not tell him we expect him to be J. Kennedy by putting him in 17 or J.Darling by giving him 27, unless he really wants it)
Monocle
And the rebuild begins.
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IMO the # 3 should have been retired for a year, out of respect for the service of Gaff.
Just like we retired # 17 last year as an act of thanks and respect for JK’s career and contribution to the Club over a long period.
Gaff like his predecessors Mainy, Judd hold special place in the Clubs history, and I personally like seeing that revered by retiring the jumper that is vacated for a season.
I would have also given Darlings# 27 a rest too, for the same reasons an #3.
That said, every player has the opportunity to make the number they are given their very own and to that end, I hope all our new recruits carve there own long, proud and successful legacy in their new numbers.
I was somewhat boggled that #25 was just reassigned at the end of last year - maybe Hurn specifically asked that it not be retired? It's hard to work out why the club's only 300 gamer and premiership captain's number didn't earn that. I'm guessing had Shuey not handed over #13 to Long (and NicNat #9 to Reid) it would also have been a number earning a couple of years off.
Not sure if you should retire a number if a player has elected to leave for another club though.
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They are only numbers but numbers are iconic in every sport, it’s how players are remembered.
17 is debatable given it’s only really one player but you’d still prefer it to not be a new recruit who is a role player at best.
3 for a bloke who is a club legend for another club is pretty disrespectful given who’s worn 3 for us in the past. Mainwaring, Judd, Gaff. All time greats of our club.
- Jan 9, 2013
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If he was still alive, I reckon Chris Mainwaring would be happy with Liam Baker in the number 3. Another hard nut who gives his absolute best and can (almost) carry a team on his back.
Think of it as being retired last season
Absolutely
I'm firmly on the "who cares" when it comes to numbers, but the less negative way of looking at it is its great the new guys want such significant numbers as a sign they intend to really crack in
Mitch Brown was also a small forward.
Tell me you're a child, without telling me you're a child.
Chicky & Bluey would be rolling in their footballing graves.
Funny, ironic big time, will be seared into the minds of haters now and for always - maybe counselling will be on offer, maybe he'll be a solid contributor and change their minds?
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Don't mind who wears what but my main hope was we give a gun kid 17 to have a chance of keeping the premiership in no.17 alive.
Maybe Graham will be our Stenglein
Sent from my SM-S908E using BigFooty.com mobile app
Maybe Graham will be our Stenglein
Sent from my SM-S908E using BigFooty.com mobile app
Miguel Sanchez
(Unique injury) TBC
I’m giving Guy McKenna your address.
- Jan 9, 2013
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FYI, Coasters7
Official AFL Website of the West Coast Eagles
The Official AFL Website of the West Coast Eagles
Hmmm, very odd jumper alocation.
Seems the 3 trade ins have claimed the 3 highest jumpers, despite the fact they're only going to be around for probably 4 years at most. Assuming it's just a pecking order thing.
Would have liked to of seen Allan get the 16 at least
Potentially turn that into a long term number of his own. Owies claiming it after being 44 at Carlton is surprising.
Seems the 3 trade ins have claimed the 3 highest jumpers, despite the fact they're only going to be around for probably 4 years at most. Assuming it's just a pecking order thing.
Would have liked to of seen Allan get the 16 at least
Potentially turn that into a long term number of his own. Owies claiming it after being 44 at Carlton is surprising.
TY24
It's Hewett, not Hewitt
- Mar 21, 2017
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The entire concept of retiring a number is weird to me, just another Americanism that’s crept in.
Retiring numbers for one season and then bringing them back seems a bit pointless to me, too. I’d rather see the outgoing player have a say in who takes their number. That’s a bigger honour than just having no one wear it for a season.
Retiring numbers for one season and then bringing them back seems a bit pointless to me, too. I’d rather see the outgoing player have a say in who takes their number. That’s a bigger honour than just having no one wear it for a season.
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Kinda distressing that the 3 trade ins seemingly got to pick first.
Forward Press
Hall of Famer
It was so distressing I fell to my knees in a Kmart when I read the news.
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The player makes the number, not the other way around.
Keys
Looking for a cloud to yell at
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This isn’t a new thing though
Just look at our current list-
5- Hunt
6- Yeo
10- Brockman (before him it was Petrevski-Seton)
11- Kelly
15- Cripps
25- Flynn
All players brought in via trade or FA
Consider also that
1 was Mitchell before Ryan
7 was Langdon before Ginbey
8 was Redden before Hewett
12 was Wellingham before Allen
16 was Hickey before Luke Edwards
17 was JK and before him, Chick
19 was Vardy before Hough
21 was Petrie before Petruccelle
23 was Witherden and before him, Jetta
Seems fairly normal that trade-ins get first dibs
