Hawthorn fans have plenty to get excited about heading into next year with new jumper numbers revealed for a dozen Hawks, including the clubs’ 10 recruits.
Draftees Cam Mackenzie, Josh Weddle, Bailey Macdonald, Jack O'Sullivan, Henry Hustwaite and Josh Bennetts along with fellow new faces Karl Amon, Lloyd Meek, Cooper Stephens and Fergus Greene all received their new numbers this week.
Meanwhile, two other Hawks have also made the switch to new significant digits.
3 – Jai Newcombe
Following a breakout 2022 season which saw him finish runner-up in Hawthorn’s best and fairest, Jai Newcombe has made the switch from number 44 to 3.
And while he has begun to establish a name for himself in the number 44, Newcombe will continue his career donning one of Hawthorn’s most well-known numbers.
The historic number has previously been worn by arguably one of the greatest to play the game, Leigh Matthews.
A Hawthorn legend, Matthews finished his career with four premierships and won the club's best and fairest a record eight times, adding significantly to the story of the number 3.
The number was most recently worn by Brownlow Medallist Tom Mitchell and four-time premiership star Jordan Lewis.
Jonathan Hay, Anthony Condon, Bob Williams, Ron Nalder, John O'Mahony feature among the players who played 100 games or more for the club while donning the famous number.
7 – Ned Reeves
Young ruckman Ned Reeves will take on the jumper number 7, vacated by former captain Ben McEvoy who recently retired after 252-game career, including 161 in the brown and gold.
Since arriving to the club in 2014, McEvoy spent his entire time at Hawthorn wearing the number 7 and in a fitting succession will now handover to his mentee in Reeves.
McEvoy spent the last few seasons taking Reeves under his wing, helping the youngster take some big strides in his development as a ruckman this year.
Other 100-plus game Hawks to pull on the number 7 include Gary Ayres, Michael Osborne, Luke McCabe, Neil Pearson and Ian Law.
10 – Karl Amon
After wearing number 15 at Port Adelaide, Karl Amon will take over jumper number 10, most recently worn by Jaeger O'Meara.
Endorsed by the first First Nations Hawthorn player to play 100 games for the club in Chance Bateman, Amon will now wear the number that the 2008 premiership player wore across his career.
This follows Brad Hill's time in the jumper between 2012-2016, while other Hawks to don the number 10 include the likes of John Kennedy Snr, David Polkinghorne and Ray Wilson.
17 – Lloyd Meek
Newcomer Lloyd Meek will launch his career in the brown and gold wearing the number 17.
The number was made famous by Michael Tuck who holds the club record for the most senior games (426), most finals (39), most grand finals (11) and most premierships (7).
Other 100-plus gamers to have worn this double digit includes Paul Hudson and Daniel Chick.
26 – Fergus Greene
Fergus Greene joins an impressive list of well-known brown and gold figures to don the number 26.
The jumper was made famous by Hawthorn legend Peter Hudson, who many consider to be the best full-forward of all time.
Four-time premiership player Rodney Eade and three-time premiership player Liam Shiels also were some fellow 100-plus game players to pull on the number 26.
Other new numbers
New recruit Cooper Stephens has taken on the number 21, while Pick 7 Cam Mackenzie will begin his career in the number 28.
Fellow top 20 pick Josh Weddle will take over the number 37, vacated by Ned Reeves.
Rookie Josh Bennetts has been handed the number 41, while fellow draftee Bailey Macdonald will take over the reins of 42.
Jack O’Sullivan will play his first year in the number 43 and Henry Hustwaite will now acquaint himself with the number 44, following Jai Newcombe's switch.
All the Hawthorn player numbers for 2023
1. Harry Morrison
2. Mitch Lewis
3. Jai Newcombe
4. Jarman Impey
5. James Worpel
6. James Sicily
7. Ned Reeves
8. Sam Frost
9. Changkuoth Jiath
10. Karl Amon
11. Conor Nash
12. Will Day
13. Dylan Moore
14. Jack Scrimshaw
15. Blake Hardwick
16. Lachlan Bramble
17. Lloyd Meek
18. Max Lynch
20. Chad Wingard
21. Cooper Stephens
22. Luke Breust
23. Jacob Koschitzke
24. Denver Grainger-Barras
25. Josh Ward
26. Fergus Greene
27. Ned Long
28. Cam Mackenzie
29. Jai Serong
30. Sam Butler
31. Connor Macdonald
32. Finn Maginness
33. Tyler Brockman
34. Fionn O’Hara
35. Josh Morris
36. James Blanck
37. Josh Weddle
38. Max Ramsden
39. Emerson Jeka
40. Seamus Mitchell
41. Josh Bennetts
42. Bailey Macdonald
43. Jack O’Sullivan
44. Henry Hustwaite
