Players, fans and teams put a lot of stock into something as simple as the number on the back of a guernsey.
Numbers of legends are passed down with great thought and some clubs even have themes with theirs, such as Collingwood giving their first draft selection No.35 every year.
Obviously, there are 18 teams and this got us thinking … of the guernsey numbers that are represented at every club, which one fields the strongest team?
For instance, could a team made up of No.44s beat a team of No.9s? It’s not as simple as you’d think, given some numbers are bereft of key position players, while others are the opposite.
The no.12, for instance, contains 12 key position size players, making it rather hard to see that team being too successful.
Of course, some numbers aren’t represented across all 18 teams and this makes them ineligible. These include: No.1, No.11, No.17, No.19 and No.20.
Here’s how the teams shape up. Make sure to vote below on which one you think is the strongest!
Disregard all injuries and assume all these players are fit and healthy. We’re also ignoring 2019 retirements.
The best teams
No.2
FB: Dylan Grimes (RIC), Jake Carlisle (STK), Lewis Young (WBD)
HB: Luke Hodge (BRI), Griffin Logue (FRE), Zach Tuohy (GEE)
C: Anthony Miles (GCS), Brad Crouch (ADE), Marley Williams (NTH)
HF: Paddy Dow (CAR), Jarryd Roughead (HAW), Sam Powell-Pepper (PRT)
FF: Jake Waterman (WCE), Jordan de Goey (COL), Daniel Menzel (SYD)
Fol: Tom Bellchambers (ESS), Nathan Jones (MEL), Jacob Hopper (GWS)
Thoughts: This is one of the stronger and more balanced teams out there. You have one of the best spines, goal kickers aplenty, a backline that can handle all types and a deep midfield. The No.2’s are the early favourites!
No.3
FB: Jarrad McVeigh (SYD), Ryan Burton (PRT), Christian Salem (MEL)
HB: Jed Anderson (NTH), Riley Knight (ADE), Daniel Wells (COL)
C: Andrew Gaff (WCE), Jack Steven (STK), Marc Murphy (CAR)
HF: Dion Prestia (RIC), Jack Bowes (GCS), Darcy Parish (ESS)
FF: Allen Christensen (BRI), Brandon Matera (FRE), Brandon Parfitt (GEE)
Fol: Mitch Wallis (WBD), Tom Mitchell (HAW), Stephen Coniglio (GWS)
Thoughts: This team greater illustrates this issues with something like this. There are literally no key position players wearing the number three right now and while this team boasts one of the best midfield groups of any team, unfortunately Mitch Wallis in the ruck, Brandon Matera at full forward and Ryan Burton at full back is not ideal.
No.4
FB: Ryan Bastinac (BRI), Paddy Ryder (PRT), Ryan Clarke (SYD)
HB: Lochie O’Brien (CAR), Jarmen Impey (HAW), Jack Martin (GCS)
C: Dom Sheed (WCE), Marcus Bontempelli (WBD), Jade Gresham (STK)
HF: Gary Ablett (GEE), Josh Jenkins (ADE), James Harmes (MEL)
FF: Toby Greene (GWS), Sean Darcy (FRE), Kyle Langford (ESS)
Fol: Brodie Grundy (COL), Dustin Martin (RIC), Shaun Higgins (NTH)
Thoughts: Grundy, Martin, Higgins, Bontempelli, Ablett, Greene, Gresham … this team is STACKED with talent. It does have its imbalances though with three rucks and no key defenders in sight. If they can keep winning the ball forward, which is likely, they could be tough to beat.
No.5
FB: Adam Cerra (FRE), Brad Sheppard (WCE), Shane Savage (STK)
HB: Sam Petrevski-Seton (CAR), Matthew Broadbent (PRT), Jarrod Harbrow (GCS)
C: James Worpel (HAW), Josh Dunkley (WBD), Brandon Ellis (RIC)
HF: Jye Caldwell (GWS), Jamie Elliott (COL), Ben Jacobs (NTH)
FF: Nakia Cockatoo (GEE), Christian Petracca (MEL), Isaac Heeney (SYD)
Fol: Mitch Robinson (BRI), Matt Crouch (ADE), Devon Smith (ESS)
Thoughts: Another team lacking key position players, the No.5’s still have enough talent and grit to be competitive. The Petracca/Heeney combo inside 50 would be fun. Most of these sides suffer from an overabundance of midfielders.
No.6
FB: Jordan Clark (GEE), James Sicily (HAW), Jackson Thurlow (SYD)
HB: Kade Simpson (CAR), Tyson Goldsack (COL), Reece Conca (FRE)
C: Hugh McCluggage (BRI), Elliot Yeo (WCE), Bryce Gibbs (ADE)
HF: Bailey Smith (WBD), Alex Sexton (GCS), Jordan Lewis (MEL)
FF: Steven Motlop (GEE), Joe Daniher (ESS), Taylor Garner (NTH)
Fol: Shaun Grigg (RIC), Lachie Whitfield (GWS), Seb Ross (STK)
Thoughts: The No.6 team is pretty well balanced with enough key position players to be viable. Recently retired premiership ruckman Shaun Grigg will have to battle manfully once again.
No.7
FB: Jarrod Berry (BRI), Harry Taylor (GEE), Harry Cunningham (SYD)
HB: Chris Masten (WCE), Luke Dunstan (STK), Brad Ebert (PRT)
C: Lachie Hunter (WBD), Nathan Fyfe (FRE), Zach Merrett (ESS)
HF: Will Brodie (GCS), Matthew Kennedy (CAR), Brett Deledio (GWS)
FF: Dan Butler (RIC), Jack Ziebell (NTH), Jordan Gallucci (ADE)
Fol: Ben McEvoy (HAW), Jack Viney (MEL), Adam Treloar (COL)
Thoughts: Let’s hope the opposition side only has one key forward, because otherwise this team is going to struggle. Ziebell and Kennedy have proven they’re serviceable as key forwards, but this team may need the magnets shuffled around a bit to succeed.
No.8
FB: Jake Kolodjashnij (GEE), Jackson Trengove (WBD), Tom Langdon (COL)
HB: Jake Kelly (ADE), Jake Lever (MEL), Martin Gleeson (ESS)
C: Hamish Hartlett (PRT), Brayden Fiorini (GCS), James Rowbottom (SYD)
HF: Blake Acres (STK), Mitchell Lewis (HAW), Andrew Brayshaw (FRE)
FF: Nathan Hrovat (NTH), Jack Riewoldt (RIC), Ely Smith (BRI)
Fol: Matthew Kreuzer (CAR), Callan Ward (GWS), Jack Redden (WCE)
Thoughts: This team doesn’t quite have the midfield depth of other sides, but it does have some excellent key position strength across all lines and a few hard-nosed players who would make them tough to beat.
No.9
FB: Sam Murray (COL), Shaun Burgoyne (HAW), Jack Steele (STK)
HB: Luke Davies-Uniacke (NTH), Hayden Crozier (WBD), Jackson Hately (GWS)
C: Dylan Shiel (ESS), Trent Cotchin (RIC), Brad Hill (FRE)
HF: Will Hayward (SYD), Robbie Gray (PRT), Ben Ainsworth (GCS)
FF: Charlie Spargo (MEL), Patrick Cripps (CAR), Zac Smith (GEE)
Fol: Nic Naitanui (WCE), Rory Sloane (ADE), Lachie Neale (BRI)
Thoughts: The No.9 team has the strongest midfield. Period. It’s so strong in fact they can utilise Patrick Cripps out of the goal square to give a genuine key forward target to a team lacking one. Hopefully the backline can hold up because this is a fun team.
No.10
FB: Aaron Francis (ESS), Charlie Ballard (GCS), Shane Edwards (RIC)
HB: Zak Jones (SYD), Easton Wood (WBD), Daniel Rich (BRI)
C: Dan Hannebery (STK), Ben Cunnington (NTH), Jaeger O’Meara (HAW)
HF: Angus Brayshaw (MEL), Jarrod Brander (WCE), Aiden Bonar (GWS)
FF: Michael Walters (FRE), Harry McKay (CAR), Myles Poholke (ADE)
Fol: Ben Jarvis (GEE), Travis Boak (PRT), Scott Pendlebury (COL)
Thoughts: Another very strong and balanced side, the No.10’s could win it all. They’ll need midfield goals and have a few youngsters filling out the side, but watch out for the 10’s.
No.12
FB: David Astbury (RIC), James Frawley (HAW), Sam Day (GCS)
HB: Matt Scharenberg (COL), Daniel Talia (ADE), Zaine Cordy (WBD)
C: Trent McKenzie (PRT), Stefan Martin (BRI), Mark Baguley (ESS)
HF: Wylie Buzza (GEE), Oscar Allen (WCE), Mitch Crowden (FRE)
FF: Max King (STK), Jon Patton (GWS), Toby Bedford (MEL)
Fol: Tom de Koning (CAR), Josh Kennedy (SYD), Jy Simpkin (NTH)
Thoughts: Remember the team with 12 key position players? This is it. With five key defenders, five key forwards and two ruckmen, this team is slightly unbalanced. Because of this, we’ve thrown Stefan Martin in the middle to play as an on-baller!
No.13
FB: Liam Stocker (CAR), Conor Glass (HAW), Callum Ah Chee (GCS)
HB: Thomas Berry (BRI), Isaac Cumming (GWS), Lachie Fogarty (GEE)
C: Jared Polec (NTH), Luke Shuey (WCE), Oliver Florent (SYD)
HF: Jack Higgins (RIC), Todd Marshall (PRT), Harley Bennell (FRE)
FF: Jack Lonie (STK), Taylor Walker (ADE), Orazio Fantasia (ESS)
Fol:Josh Schache (WBD), Clayton Oliver (MEL), Taylor Adams (COL)
Thoughts: Unlucky for some, the No.13’s don’t have a backline whatsoever, but everything forward of that looks strong. They have a great starting midfield and a lot of goal kicking options.
No.16
FB: Kade Kolodjasnij (MEL), Rory Thompson (GCS), Luke Brown (ADE)
HB: Chris Mayne (COL), Scott Thompson (NTH), Jack Newnes (STK)
C: Scott Selwood (GEE), Ollie Wines (PRT), Isaac Smith (HAW)
HF: Mav Weller (RIC), Josh Begley (ESS), Darcy Lang (CAR)
FF: Zac Foot (SYD), Cam Rayner (BRI), Brent Daniels (GWS)
Fol: Tom Hickey (WCE), David Mundy (FRE), Toby McLean (WBD)
Thoughts: A lack of forwards aside, this is a dangerous team on paper. They have a good mix of inside and outside midfielders and a strong backline.
No.18
FB: Brad Scheer (GCS), Alex Rance (RIC), Fletcher Roberts (WBD)
HB: Shaun Atley (NTH), Michael Hurley (ESS), Travis Varcoe (COL)
C: Darcy Tucker (FRE), Charlie Constable (GEE), Zak Butters (PRT)
HF: Daniel Vernables (WCE), Jeremy Cameron (GWS), Jake Melksham (MEL)
FF: Eddie Betts (ADE), Callum Sinclair (SYD), Jon Ceglar (HAW)
Fol: Billy Longer (STK), Sam Walsh (CAR), Nick Robertson (BRI)
Thoughts: This is one of the stronger key position teams, despite having to balance three ruckmen. Unfortunately the lack of midfield depth could see them struggle against other numbers.
No.22
FB: Shane Kersten (FRE), Nathan Brown (STK), Caleb Marchbank (CAR)
HB: Hamish Brayshaw (WCE), Andy Otten (ADE), Mitch Hinge (BRI)
C: Aaron vandenBerg (MEL), Steele Sidebottom (COL), Josh Caddy (RIC)
HF: Luke Breust (HAW), Nick Blakey (SYD), Sam Lloyd (WBD)
FF: Tom Nicholls (GCS), Charlie Dixon (PRT), Irving Mosquito (ESS)
Fol: Todd Goldstein (NTH), Josh Kelly (GWS), Mitch Duncan (GEE)
Thoughts: A well-balanced side with a strong midfield and plenty of goal kicking options. This is a fun team that could challenge the rest.
No.23
FB: Heath Shaw (GWS), Jordan Roughead (COL), Ben McKay (NTH)
HB: Laitham Vandermeer (WBD), Jacob Weitering (CAR), James Jordan (MEL)
C: Jack Watts (PRT), Kame Lambert (RIC), Lewis Jetta (WCE)
HF: Gary Rohan (GEE), Lance Franklin (SYD), Jack Bytel (STK)
FF: Charlie Cameron (BRI), Cam McCarthy (FRE), Shane McAdam (ADE)
Fol Tim O’Brien (HAW), David Myers (ESS), Sean Lemmens (GCS)
Thoughts: One of sport’s most famous numbers has a few too many untried players to quite match it with other teams, but who wouldn’t want to see Franklin and Cameron in the same forward line?
WHICH TEAM IS THE STRONGEST?
Honourable mention teams:
No.15
FB: Blake Hardwick (HAW), Lynden Dunn (COL), Taylor Duryea (WBD)
HB: Sam Docherty (CAR), Sam Taylor (GWS), Ethan Hughes (FRE)
C: Billy Stretch (MEL), Paul Ahern (NTH), Jayden Short (RIC)
HF: Kieren Jack (SYD), Jayden Laverde (ESS), Karl Amon (PRT)
FF: Jamie Cripps (WCE), Nathan Kreuger (GEE), Aaron Young (GCS)
Fol: Kyle Hartigan (ADE), Dayne Zorko (BRI), Jack Billings (STK)
No.21
FB: Sam Skinner (BRI), Jack Leslie (GCS), Jack Maibaum (SYD)
HB: Jarrod Garlett (CAR), Joel Hamling (FRE), Rory Atkins (ADE)
C: Tom Phillips (COL), Tom Liberatore (WBD), Tom Scully (HAW)
HF: Jacob Kennerley (GEE), Matt Buntine (GWS), Dom Tyson (NTH)
FF: Jack Petruccelle (WCE), Jacob Townsend (RIC), Ben Long (STK)
Fol: Braydon Preuss (MEL), Dyson Heppell (ESS), Xavier Duursma (PRT)
No.25
FB: Lachie Keeffe (GWS), Alex Pearce (FRE), Sam Collins (GCS)
HB: Shannon Hurn (WCE), Robbie Tarrant (NTH), Lachie Henderson (GEE)
C: Ben Cavarra (WBD), Jake Stringer (ESS), Dean Kent (STK)
HF: Ned McHenry (ADE), Daniel McStay (BRI), Ben Ronke (SYD)
FF: Sam Hayes (PRT), Tom McDonald (MEL), Ryan Schoenmakers (HAW)
Fol: Toby Nankervis (RIC), Zac Fisher (CAR), Jack Crisp (COL)
No.26
FB: Tom Cutler (BRI), Cale Hooker (ESS), Harrison Macreadie (CAR)
HB: Riley Bonner (PRT), Josh Battle (STK), Francis Watson (WCE)
C: Richard Douglas (ADE), Luke Parker (SYD), Riley Collier-Dawkins (RIC)
HF: Tarryn Thomas (NTH), Sam Weideman (MEL), Harrison Wigg (GCS)
FF: Josh Daicos (COL), Tom Hawkins (GEE), Billy Gowers (WBD)
Fol: Dawson Simpson (GWS), Liam Shiels (HAW), Ed Langdon (FRE)
No.44
FB: Tom Stewart (GEE), Jack Magden (COL), Damon Greaves (HAW)
HB: Jake Lloyd (SYD), Joel Smith (MEL), Callum Wilkie (STK)
C: Cam Hewett (PRT), Sydney Stack (RIC), Taylin Duman (FRE)
HF: Jack Buckley (GWS), Archie Smith (BRI), Matt Owies (CAR)
FF: Lachlan Murphy (ADE), Shaun McKernan (ESS), Willie Rioli (WCE)
Fol: Tim English (WBD), Cam Zurhaar (NTH), Darcy Macpherson (GCS)