The Sydney Swans have allocated playing numbers for season 2016 with promising midfielder Callum Mills presented the most famous of them all.
Mills will wear the No. 14 jumper made legendary by former captains Bob Skilton and Paul Kelly – and most recently worn by premiership player Craig Bird.
A Swans supporter growing up, the significance of the number was not lost on the new draftee.
“I jumped at the chance of taking the No. 14 jumper,” Mills said.
“For me, to pave my own way in the number will be great. Just to honour those who have come before me while making the number my own will be a privilege."
Mills, from Terrey Hills, continues a recent tradition of New South Welshmen assuming the famous digits given Kelly hailed from Wagga Wagga and Bird grew up in Nelson Bay.
The number sat idle in the wake of Kelly’s retirement in 2002 with Bird resurrecting the jumper five seasons later.
Adam Goodes’ No. 37 will follow a similar path.
It will be put away indefinitely, but not forever, out of respect for the dual Brownlow Medallist.
Irishman Colin O’Riordan will take over from Mike Pyke in the No. 38, continuing the jumper’s international flavour.
Alex Johnson will be the only formerly listed Swan to change numbers. The premiership defender, who is recovering from his latest knee operation, takes the No. 2 left vacant by retiree Rhyce Shaw.
Former West Coast Eagle Callum Sinclair will don the No. 18 which went unworn last season while Michael Talia will feel right at home in the No. 32 which was the same number worn during his time at the Western Bulldogs.
New draftees Tyrone Leonardis (No. 30), Jordan Dawson (No. 34), Tom Papley (No. 41), Sam Murray (No.46) and Kyle Galloway (No. 47) round out the list.
1 – James Rose
2 – Alex Johnson
3 – Jarrad McVeigh
4 – Dan Hannebery
5 – Isaac Heeney
6 – Tom Mitchell
7 – Harry Cunningham
8 – Kurt Tippett
9 – Abe Davis
10 – Zak Jones
11 – Jeremy Laidler
12 – Josh Kennedy
13 – Toby Nankervis
14 – Callum Mills
15 – Kieren Jack
16 – Gary Rohan
17 – Jack Hiscox
18 – Callum Sinclair
19 – Tom Derickx
20 – Sam Reid
21 – Ben McGlynn
22 – Dean Towers
23 – Lance Franklin
24 – Dane Rampe
25 – Ted Richards
26 – Luke Parker
27 – Dan Robinson
28 – Nic Newman
29 – George Hewett
30 – Tyrone Leonardis
31 – Harry Marsh
32 – Michael Talia
33 – Brandon Jack
34 – Jordan Dawson
35 – Sam Naismith
36 – Aliir Aliir
37 -
38 – Colin O’Riordan
39 – Heath Grundy
40 – Nick Smith
41 – Tom Papley
42 – Xavier Richards
43 – Lewis Melican
44 – Jake Lloyd
45 – Jordan Foote
46 – Sam Murray
47 – Kyle Galloway
