Can only assume that he asked for number 2 after Thommo was made captain and was given number 1 but was only captain for a year. By. 1979 the tradition of the captain wearing 1 was abolished with Ray Shaw keeping his 23. We haven’t had a captain wearing 1 since.Yes - #9 for three years, then #2 for one year: https://afltables.com/afl/stats/players/P/Phil_Carman.html
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As far as tell 1 was vacant in 1979 and then in 1980, Ricky Barham claimed it, handing in his 43.