The 10 players recently welcomed into the Sydney Swans family as draftees or via the trade period have this week been officially handed their guernsey numbers for the 2019 season.
The Swans recruited Nick Blakey, James Rowbottom, Justin McInerney and Zac Foot at the National Draft almost a fortnight ago, before signing Durak Tucker, Harry Reynolds and Sam Wicks as rookies.
Sydney had previously secured the signatures of ex-Kangaroo Ryan Clarke and former Cats Dan Menzel and Jackson Thurlow during October’s trade period.
Blakey will don the No. 22 in season 2019, Rowbottom is set to run out in the No. 8 and McInerney has received the No. 27 guernsey made famous by 2005 premiership ruckman Jason Ball.
Foot has been presented the No. 16 jumper worn by 2005 premiership big man Darren Jolly and most recently Gary Rohan, while Tucker will make his mark in the No. 28, Reynolds in former co-Captain Brett Kirk's No.31 and Wicks the No. 45.
Clarke will pull on one of the most revered guernseys in Swans folklore, with the youngster being handed the No. 4 jumper adorned by Swans Team of the Century duo Billy Williams and Tony Lockett, as well as 2012 premiership midfielder Dan Hannebery.
Menzel will burst through the banner in the No. 2 jumper worn by 2012 premiership defenders Alex Johnson and Rhyce Shaw, while Thurlow is set to continue a rich history himself, with the new Swan being gifted the No. 6 guernsey worn by Swans Hall of Fame inductees Harry Clarke, Andrew Dunkley and Craig Bolton.
Blakey, who this year graduated from the QBE Sydney Swans Academy, says being presented his guernsey number is a moment he’ll never forget.
“I worked towards this for 18 years of my life and it’s incredibly special to now have my own Swans number,” Blakey told sydneyswans.com.au.
“Being presented the No. 22 is a moment I will cherish forever and I cannot wait to run out in the jumper in 2019.”
Clarke was coincidentally presented the number he wore in junior footy and said it meant a lot to be handed the No. 4.
“It’s a special moment in my football career to have been presented my Swans guernsey,” Clarke said.
“I played juniors in the No. 4 and it’s obviously a great number at the football club, so I’m extremely humbled to be wearing this next year.”
The 2019 Guernsey Presentation and Hall of Fame Induction Dinner, presented by Volkswagen, will take place in March.
The prestigious evening will see every member of Sydney’s list awarded their guernsey for the 2019 campaign.
