Reasons for number swaps:
60 of the 64 number changes listed in the previous post were obviously due to players wanting to move up the list to a smaller number. The four occasions where players moved to a bigger number had differing reasons...
1. Will Slade (12 to 37). Was delisted at the end of 2005 but then added back on as a rookie for 2006. By that stage his number 12 had already been given to Trent West.
2. Ray Sarcevic (13 to 42). Not exactly sure about this one but I believe it may have been due to him thinking 'unlucky 13' was the reason he only played three games in 1984. Once he had managed only one game in 1985 wearing no.42, he probably realised it was less to do with luck and more to do with just not being very good.
3. Gary Malarkey (5 to 6). Seem to remember that he retired at the end of 1983 but then had a change of heart and returned to play another three seasons. By the time he came out of retirement, Gary Ablett snr had already been given the famous no.5.
4. Craig Cleave (32 to 45). Played 4 games in his debut of year of 1982 but then went missing for the whole of 1983 (long term injury?). By the time he returned to play 12 games in 1984, his no.32 had been given away to Michael Lenaghan.