It’s official. The No.2 guernsey, worn with distinction by the likes of John Nicholls, Greg Williams and the club’s oldest surviving Premiership player Don McIntyre, has been handed to Carlton’s first-named national draftee of 2012, Troy Menzel.

Menzel secures the guernsey most recently sported by Jordan Russell, with the Blues’ second round draftee Tom Temay earning the No.18 previously worn by Paul Bower.

Carlton’s third round selection, Nicholas Graham, inherits the No.32 recently vacated by the man who wore it into more senior matches than any other Carlton footballer, the 188-game key defender Bret Thornton.

Carlton Director - Football Operations Andrew McKay said that the outstanding guernsey numbers were offered to each of the players based on where they fell in the draft pecking order.

“Obviously Troy, as our first draft pick, got first dibs on which of the three numbers he wanted, and in fact he used to play in the No.2 at a younger age,” McKay said.

“We did tell him on draft night who had worn the guernsey before. You’d have to say there have been some reasonable players and I’m not sure it really sank in - but it’d be good if we’re talking about Troy in the same light we talk about the previous No.2s.”