Buckley will sport the No.7 guernsey made famous by Carlton premiership players including Ted Hopkins, Wayne Johnston and, more recently, the Senior Coach Brett Ratten. He had earlier opted against sporting the No.16 worn by his father, the three-time Carlton premiership player and club best and fairest Jim Buckley.
Sam Rowe is to don the guernsey No.17 recently vacated by Setanta O’hAilpin. Carlton’s 1964 Brownlow Medallist and club best and fairest Gordon Collis, together with the exhilarating Carlton premiership players Brent Crosswell and Mark Naley, also sported the No.17 on their backs.
And Josh Bootsma will turn out in the No.21 of Carlton’s games record holder and three-time club best and fairest Craig Bradley, who wore the guernsey with distinction in 375 matches from 1986-2002, including the Grand Final triumphs of 1987 and ’95.
Sam Rowe (left) and Josh Bootsma
The late Ken Baxter, the only man to represent Carlton in the premierships of 1938, ’45 and ’47, also carried the No.21 on his back, as did premiership players Charlie Fisher, Herb Burleigh, Frank and Barry Gill and Rod Austin.
The three recruits may not be stepping out in their guernseys for some time but all have their number on the front of the training tops as they commence their new lives at Visy Park.
