They’re the numbers all Blues fans have been waiting for – the numbers our 15 new recruits will wear in 2016.
As revealed exclusively on Tuesday night via Carlton’s Instagram account (carlton_fc), the Blues’ No.1 pick Jacob Weitering will wear the No.23, while father-son recruit Jack Silvagni will don the No.2.
Although Silvagni joked yesterday that he and Andrew Walker would “share” the No.1 locker, made famous by his father Stephen and grandfather Serge, the 17-year-old had already made up his mind to forge his own career in the No.2.
“The No.2 gives me more of an opportunity to create my own path, obviously Serge and dad wore No.1, so I guess you could say one plus one equals two,” Silvagni said.
“I’m really happy there’s still a nice synergy between the number my grandfather and dad played in and my new number.”
The No.2 is a significant number in Carlton history – a fact that’s not lost on the young forward.
“The No.2 is a massive number, you’ve got Greg Williams, a dual Brownlow Medallist, and John Nicholls, arguably our greatest player of all time, who have both worn the No.2.
“I hope to wear the number for many years to come and make my own mark in this jumper.”
Meanwhile, Jacob Weitering’s father Darren always instilled in Jacob that “the number doesn’t make the player”, but the number 23 has always been a significant number in the Weitering household.
“As a family our favourite number has always been 23…if he ends up with 23 that would be fantastic,” Weitering’s mother Tanya said on draft night.
“We got engaged on the 23rd, married on the 23rd we when were 23-years-old and we had our first child on the 23rd.”
Jacob, who celebrated his 18th birthday on November 23, had never played under that number until he entered the NAB AFL Academy.
“He brought home his suitcase and he said ‘mum I think it’s an omen’ and he had the number 23 – and every time he played in that jumper he played really well.”
Carlton’s tall key forward, draftee Harry McKay, was rapt to receive the No.10, the same number in which he was selected by Carlton in the national draft.
As a mark of respect for retired champions Chris Judd and Andrew Carrazzo, the No.5 and No.44 jumpers will not be used in season 2016.
Here are the new Blues' numbers:
