IT’S ALL coming together.
With the Blues welcoming five draftees during the week and pre-season starting officially for the first-to-four-year players on Monday, there’s one very important order of business to tick off first.
Who gets what number?
As seven Blues arrive at IKON Park following a big off-season, it’s now time to officially reveal all.
No.7: Jagga Smith
Carlton’s prized recruit on the first night of the 2024 Telstra AFL Draft will wear a number close to the heart. Previously wearing No.7 at the Oakleigh Chargers, Jagga Smith will now wear his “favourite number” in Navy Blue, following on from the likes of Hall of Fame members Wayne Johnston and Brett Ratten. The added significance? Smith was presented his first Carlton jumper by Lance Whitnall on draft night, whose dad Graeme wore the number for 66 games in the 1970s and ‘80s.
No.16: Ben Camporeale
This is special. When Ben’s brother Lucas revealed during the draft that the two have always made a pact - whoever got picked first would get the old man’s No.16 - it still wasn’t exactly official. But it is now. Ben will follow in the footsteps of his premiership dad Scott as well as triple premiership player Jim Buckley in the number. Receiving a FaceTime call from his dad upon finding out the news, Scott’s message to Ben was clear: “write your own story”.
No.21: Lucas Camporeale
Unfortunately, both Camporeales are unable to wear Dad’s number — but this may be the next best thing. Lucas was thrilled upon finding out the news that he’d wear the number of another South Australian wingman who wore the Navy Blue, and just happens to be a premiership teammate of Scott in 1995. The significance wasn’t lost on Lucas, wearing the number of games-record holder and Club Legend Craig Bradley, while it was also the number of premiership player Rod Austin.
No.22: Harry O’Farrell
Double digits. Young key defender Harry O’Farrell has grown up a Carlton fan and naturally has taken a close eye to dual John Nicholls Medallist Jacob Weitering: he now finds himself as locker buddies with the co-vice captain and All-Australian defender. The No.22 has had some key contributors over the years in Navy Blue, including six premiership players — arguably none more significant than Carlton Legend Harry ‘Soapy’ Vallence, who contributed over 200 games and 700 goals throughout the 1920 and ‘30s.
No.26: Nick Haynes
O’Farrell isn’t the only new Blue backman who finds himself in the 20s. Joining Weitering and old friend Nic Newman in the defenders’ corner of the locker room, Nick Haynes will wear the No.26 jumper in 2025 after it was vacant last season. One of the Blues’ great backs of the 1940s in Jim Clark won two flags and a best and fairest in the number, while there haven’t been many better defensive performances in Carlton colours than that of Norm Smith Medallist David Rhys-Jones in the 1987 Grand Final.
No.28: Harry Charleson
What were we saying about those defenders? After becoming a Blue in Friday’s AFL Rookie Draft, Harry Charleson was quick to make the trek down to IKON Park, where he was informed that he’d be wearing the No.28 jumper: there’ll be no shortage of defensive experience around him.A video message from Peter Jones accompanied it to mark the occasion, with ‘Percy’ one of four former premiership players in the number as well as a best-and-fairest winner.
No.41: Matt Duffy
Rounding things out is Matt Duffy, with the Irishman officially joining the Blues’ list after sitting out of 2024 with an ACL injury. There haven’t been many greater success stories in the No.41 jumper than Levi Casboult, who retired this year from the Gold Coast Suns but played over 150 games with his boyhood club after starting out as a rookie. If Duffy needs any further inspiration, he can just look next door and see Zach Tuohy’s name on Adam Saad’s No.42 as the first Irishman to reach a century of games for the Blues.
