NUMBERS GAME
It’s great to have fans wearing what’s on your back
AS a kid, growing up playing footy from the age of six, I was infatuated with what player number I would be given at the start of each season.
My first was the number two and that stuck with me for all my junior years.
Initially, I believe I received this number as it was the second smallest guernsey out of the jumpers and as a six-year-old in under-eights, it was one of the only guernseys that could fit me.
I would watch AFL players run around with their numbers on their back and that’s how my favourite numbers came about.
I always wanted a low number or single digits as a lot of stars wore low numbers.
I’ve played in numbers two and eight for the majority of my juniors and now wear the number 10 for the Cats.
It’s something that I believe I still have an infatuation with and now watch and take notice of the other No.10s around the league.
It is also something that stands out to me when I see a kid or fan wearing a Geelong guernsey with No.10 on the back.
I feel privileged to have someone else wear my number proudly on their back.
It reminds me and makes me reminisce from when I was a kid, watching AFL players and thinking I want to wear the same number as that guy and I know that many kids do.
They idolise us and want to be like us when they grow up. So, I thought I would take a look at the best numbers in the AFL and what numbers the star players wear.
There are plenty of guns wearing No.10 including Scott Pendlebury and Daniel Rich, but how does it stack up against the others?
If you look at the list, in comparison to all guernsey numbers, No.10 stacks up pretty well. However it probably doesn’t match a few of the best.
The No.3 has some quality footballers, which isn’t a surprise, much the same with No.4, which also has an array of good young players running around in Andrew Mackie’s number.
But of all the numbers, expect to see a lot of kids around the country wearing No.9, regardless of who they support as most teams have an established and accomplished player wearing it.
Zac Smith wears it for the Cats and is complemented by other stars from every club in the league that have recognised players wearing the nine and are as follows: Rory Sloane, Dayne Beams, Patrick Cripps, Jesse White, Brendon Goddard, Brad Hill, Gary Ablett, Tom Scully, Shaun Burgoyne, Jack Trengove, Andrew Swallow, Robbie Gray, Trent Cotchin, Jack Steele, Will Hayward, Nic Naitanui and Jake Stringer wear No.9 on their back each week for their clubs, and it’s a pretty impressive list.
So, kids and fans, keep supporting your footy club and your favourite player with their number on the back of your guernsey.
I have no doubt that down at the Cattery we will continue to see the No.14 and 35 as they are brilliant players and role models for that matter.
But it is also great seeing other numbers, and although players might not admit it, they will certainly take notice as it is a nice surprise to see your number on a fan’s back.
It further reiterates to us how lucky we are to do what we do and be in our position.
Keep reppin’ your footy number, whatever that is, but especially the No.10.