Strange player number behaviour

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Dec 18, 2002
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Let us also remember Harry Taylor's legendary appearance in the #85 last year v Melbourne :D

Was a great moment. And I thought I'd never see anything to top Shannon Motlop randomly coming out in #53 against Geelong in 2005 when his heritage round jumper got bloodied.

Ask yourself why, of all numbers, they had a spare #53 heritage jersey lying around.
 
Dec 18, 2002
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According to http://www.blueseum.org Carlton's highest numbers were #55 - Mark Buckley in 1982 and Brent Heaver in 1992. Can somebody confirm?

Interesting for Heaver - he went 54 to 38 at Melbourne then 55, 17 at Carlton. Four numbers in four years.
 

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Feb 18, 2003
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Just further to my post on the previous page - Russell holmesby in the Encyclopaedia Of League Footballers had this to say:

In the 1958 and 1965 finals series, the VFL changed several player's numbers at the last minute because they had been reproduced in external publications.

From the 1958 grand final:

Collingwood - Beers wore 7 (normally 20), Bennett 11 (33), Brewer 5 (6), Delanty 24 (2), Fellowes 8 (28), Gray 22 (4), Greve 12 (7), Harrison 3 (32), Henderson 4 (37), Lucas 2 (3), Merrett 16 (17), Reeves 17 (16), Rose 15 (48), Serong 14 (22), Smale 6 (5), Sullivan 20 (26), Twomey 23 (25), Turner 19 (11), Weideman 1 (27).

Melbourne - Adams 17 (16), Barassi 2 (31), Brenchley 6 (38), Carroll 11 (19), Case 9 (7), Crompton 25 (12), Dixon 16 (9), Fenton-Smith 4 (1), Bob Johnson 8 (16), Trevor Johnson 3 (14), Jones 21 (27), Lord 22 (4), Marquis 7 (3), McLean 15 (5), Mithen 19 (11), Ridley 23 (24), Tunbridge 24 (23), Williams 12 (25), Thorogood 20 (26), Wilson 10 (33).

From the 1965 finals series:

Essendon - Egan 43 (42), Gerlach 2 (17), Payne 8 (7), Shaw 4 (5), Timms 22 (25)

St. Kilda - Cross 31 (17), McMaster-Smith 36 (35), Neale 18 (31), Read 7 (21), Roberts 24 (23), Sierakowski 17 (13)

Collingwood - Boyne 18 (34), Hug 10 (17), McKenna 15 (6), Montgomery 20 (35), Patterson 23 (36), Potter 6 (15), Rose 3 (29), Tully 16 (39), Turner 11 (3)
 

pickman

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According to http://www.blueseum.org Carlton's highest numbers were #55 - Mark Buckley in 1982 and Brent Heaver in 1992. Can somebody confirm?

Interesting for Heaver - he went 54 to 38 at Melbourne then 55, 17 at Carlton. Four numbers in four years.

What number did Heaver sport when he played at Port Adelaide?

IIRC he played a few games for them in their early AFL years.
 
Dec 18, 2002
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What number did Heaver sport when he played at Port Adelaide?

IIRC he played a few games for them in their early AFL years.

You're right. Wore #12. Puts him in the 5 different numbers club as well.

I'm going through the records of the 'newer' clubs now to add what I think are the highest numbers. Any confirmations or additions would be great.

Three random stats I just came across

Colin Alexander - three consecutive numbers in three years #32 (1989 @ Collingwood), #31 (1990 @ Bris), #30 (1991 @ Bris)

Michael McLean - 95 games in #51 (1983-1989)

Bryan Wood of Richmond. #37 in 1972, #16 in 73/74, back to #37 in 1975, then back to #16 from 1976-1982
 
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According to http://www.blueseum.org Carlton's highest numbers were #55 - Mark Buckley in 1982 and Brent Heaver in 1992. Can somebody confirm?

Interesting for Heaver - he went 54 to 38 at Melbourne then 55, 17 at Carlton. Four numbers in four years.

I have a game pic to prove it which i'l scan and put up in the morning.

I also remember Barry Stoneham stepping out in the 1985 reserves elimination final in #62.
 
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Peter Berbervokv (sp) wore #51 for Essendon.

Think Calthorpe might have worn #52, too.

At one stage Essendon had Rick Olarenshaw in #47, David Calthorpe in #48, James Hird in #49, Joe Misiti in #52 and Glenn Manton in #53 playing in the seniors. Mark Mercuri also had a number in the 50's. I've got a feeling it was #55 but i'll look it up.
 
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Great work, SM. One of the best threads in ages.

Perhaps we can try to get a list of many players who began with numbers 40+, but then moved on to the better numbers (a la Hird)?

BTW, for the #49, Rupert Betheras wore it on 38 occasions from 1999-2000.
 

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Great work, SM. One of the best threads in ages.

Perhaps we can try to get a list of many players who began with numbers 40+, but then moved on to the better numbers (a la Hird)?

BTW, for the #49, Rupert Betheras wore it on 38 occasions from 1999-2000.

At West Coast, Glen Jakovich (48), Ashley McIntosh (53), Quentin Lynch (45) all spring to mind.
 

Elder van Berlo

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4. How many players have moved to a higher number at the same club in the modern era?


5. What's the highest number worn at every club

Couple of Adelaide ones:

Patrick Dangerfield moved from 19 to 32 this season. And Ashley Fernee wore #54 for a couple of games in 1996 (and no, I've never heard of him either :eek:)
 

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3b. Players who have had three different numbers at the same club?

4. How many players have moved to a higher number at the same club in the modern era?

Geelong's Will Slade wore #46 in 2002, #12 in 2003, and #37 in 2006.



Paul Salmon wore #3 for Essendon before he went to Hawthorn, then #4 when he came out of retirement that one year.

Similarly, Tony Lockett had #4 and #46 for Sydney.
 
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Collingwood champion Gordon Coventry wore numbers 3,5,6,7,8,9,10 and 29 during his career.

Numbers were given via alphabetical order back then. #1 and 2 were captain and vice captain (at least at Collingwood). Only a few players kept their numbers from year to year. I'm not sure but I think Dick Lee always had #13.

Port Adelaide have the #1 captain thing going so there will be a few players getting higher numbers after they're no longer the captain. Tredrea for example (1 > 6) and Wanganeen (1 > 4).

Another thing to note is that I think O'Brien has followed Des Tuddenham in having both numbers 30 and 8.

Collingwood player Toby Thoolen wore 30 last year, got delisted and re-rookied and is now wearing #45.

Collingwood VFL introduced a policy this year to avoid confusion with numbers that Collingwood's AFL listed players will take #1-48 and VFL listed players take any number after that. For example Kris Pendlebury used to be #1 now he is #49. Peverill is #53.
 
Dec 18, 2002
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Collingwood VFL introduced a policy this year to avoid confusion with numbers that Collingwood's AFL listed players will take #1-48 and VFL listed players take any number after that. For example Kris Pendlebury used to be #1 now he is #49. Peverill is #53.

Casey Scorpions do the reverse. All the Casey players are the 'low' numbers and the Melbourne listed players start at #46 and above. Either way it's much easier to follow opposition sides if you know who's who - I watched the Northern Bullants a couple of weeks ago and spent more time looking at the record to see which the AFL players were than watching the game.
 

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