With our eight new Bulldogs receiving their 2024 playing numbers, we look back at the history of each one.
#9: Ryley Sanders
Sanders, a young Tasmanian with Indigenous heritage, will be looking to forge a career of his own in the number nine made famous by Lindsay Gilbee.
Gilbee wore the number for 206 games from 2001 to 2012 and offered the number to Sanders on draft night.
There's also a connection to the number through Paul Hudson, a Tasmanian Hall of Fame inductee who managed 214 goals from 108 games in the red, white and blue between 1997-2001.
Notable #9s: Lindsay Gilbee, Les Bamblett, Paul Hudson, Laurie Sandilands
Most games: Lindsay Gilbee (206)
Most recent: Hayden Crozier
#16: Jordan Croft
Father-son recruit Jordan will follow in Matthew’s footsteps, taking on the number 16 guernsey.
Matthew Croft played 186 games in the number across 14 seasons, before Toby McLean became a premiership player in it in the drought-breaking 2016 flag.
Former coach and two-time Charles Sutton Medallist, Terry Wallace, also wore the #16 on 69 occasions from 1998-1991.
Notable #16s: Matthew Croft, Ryan Griffen, Terry Wallace, David Thorp
Most games: Ryan Griffen (202)
Most recent: Toby McLean
#17: Nick Coffield
Childhood Bulldog fan Nick Coffield will assume the #17 guernsey, made vacant by former St Kilda teammate Josh Bruce.
Former number one draft pick and 2008 Brownlow medallist Adam Cooney wore the number on 219 occasions, while Nathan Brown and Tom Boyd also making the #17 their own.
Coffield previously wore #33 and #1 at the Saints.
Notable players: Adam Cooney, Nathan Brown, Tom Boyd
Most games: Adam Cooney (219)
Most recent: Josh Bruce
#22: James Harmes
Off-season recruit James Harmes will continue his AFL career in the red, white and blue #22.
Jamarra Ugle-Hagan made his debut in the #22, as did Bulldogs’ Hall of Famer and former captain Bob Murphy, who played three games in the #22.
Ted Whitten Jnr also donned the number across his 144-game career between 1974-1982, along with Club Hall of Fame inductee, Wally Donald, who holds the record for most games in the #22.
At the Dees, Harmes previously wore #43 before taking on the #4 in in 2018.
Notable players: Wally Donald, Ted Whitten Jnr, Robert Rose, Bob Murphy (later #2)
Most games: Wally Donald (205)
Most recent: Tim O’Brien
#27: Joel Freijah
Bulldogs’ draftee Joel Freijah will don #27 for the start of his AFL career.
Famous number 27s include ruck Will Minson, who played 191 games across 13 seasons, and Stephen Macpherson, who bagged 152 goals from 188 games – which arguably could’ve been higher were it not for injury.
This year, Freijah wore #7 at the GWV Rebels.
Notable players: Will Minson, Stephen Macpherson, Len MccCankie
Most games: Will Minson (191)
Most recent: Robbie McComb
#29: Lachie Bramble
Former Hawk Lachie Bramble will continue his AFL career in the number 29.
Sharpshooter Tory Dickson won a premiership in it, while Neil Cordy (139 games) holds the record for most games in the number.
At Hawthorn, Bramble wore the #16.
Notable players: Neil Cordy, Tory Dickson, Alan Thorpe
Most games: Neil Cordy (139)
Most recent: Mitch Hannan
#37: Aiden O’Driscoll
Aiden O’Driscoll will assume guernsey number #37 for season 2024 and beyond.
Only 13 players in Club history have donned the #37, with outgoing Roarke Smith the latest and current record-holder.
Funnily enough, his siblings Nathan and Emma (both at Fremantle) also wear guernseys featuring a three – Nathan in #30 and Emma in #3.
Notable players: Roarke Smith, Daniel Hargraves
Most games: Roarke Smith (47)
Most recent: Roarke Smith
#40: Lachie Smith
Young ruck Lachie Smith will wear the #40 when he starts his AFL career at the Bulldogs.
Jarrod Harbrow played 70 games in the number, before crossing to the Suns, while Robert McGhie played 37 games in it before joining Richmond.
Premiership Bulldog Luke Dahlhaus also started his career in the #40 – later upgrading to the number six.
Notable players: Jarrod Harbrow, Robert McGhie, Luke Dahlhaus (later #6)
Most games: Jarrod Harbrow (70)
Most recent: Cody Raak
