Following retirements, delistings and trades, several Hawthorn playing numbers are now up for grabs. 

Currently available:

4, 6, 15, 32, 38, 40

Numbers six, 32 and 38 were left vacant following the retirements of Josh Gibson, Jack Fitzpatrick and (earlier this season) Luke Surman. 

The famous number 15 will be available following Luke Hodge’s move up north, while Billy Hartung’s number four and Kade Stewart’s 40 were also vacated after the pairs’ delistings earlier this week. 

Dallas Willsmore will likely retain his number 20 guernsey, since the club affirmed their commitment to re-selecting the 22-year-old in the upcoming rookie draft. 

So, who gets what?

New Hawk Jarman Impey will be needing a new number, since the 24 he wore during his four seasons at Alberton is currently occupied by Ben Stratton. Perhaps the speedy recruit will drop the two and keep the four? 

Following Gibson’s 160-game, three-premiership stint in the number six guernsey, its next custodian will have huge shoes to fill. Might one of Hawthorn’s up and coming defenders be given the honour? Kaiden Brand? James Sicily? Conor Glass? All three could be considered worthy recipients of the prized number. 

And of course, the elephant in the room; what will happen with the number 15? The guernsey former skipper Luke Hodge donned with pride on 305 occasions. The guernsey borne on the back of Hawks fans all over the country. 

Hodge has previously heaped praise on emerging defender Blake Hardwick, who currently dons number 37. In 2017, Hardwick locked down a position in Hawthorn’s starting 22 while playing across half back, even earning himself a Rising Star nomination in Round 15. Could he be given the honour?  

To be honest, we have no idea what player will occupy any of these numbers, but it’s certainly fun speculating!

Tell us what you think.