Wood, who fronted the media less than 24 hours after having his name called at the NAB AFL Rookie Draft, needed no prompting about the significance of the guernsey, worn with distinction by Maclure and Carlton’s only other Premiership player in the guernsey, the late Peter McLean.
Readily admitting to still being somewhat in a state of shock, Wood appreciated the significance of the guernsey worn by Maclure into a record 243 senior matches over 13 seasons with the club from 1974 to 1986.
“Mark was obviously a big player in the history of the Carlton Football Club, so I’m really looking forward to donning the number 36,” Wood said.
Guernsey numbers for the Blues’ other nominated rookies are as follows;
- Luke “Bobby” Reynolds, who earns the No.31 famously worn by the former Carlton captain-coach Ron Barassi and the Premiership players Charlie McInnes (1938 and ’45) and Tom Alvin (1987), and recently vacated by Marcus Davies;
- Blaine Johnson, who gains the No.45 worn by Premiership player Warren McKenzie and most recently by Aaron Joseph;
- Ciaran Sheehan, who inherits the No.47 worn by Carlton’s 1979 Premiership player and arguably that Grand Final’s best player afield, Peter Francis, as well as the 1968 Premiership player Neil Chandler; and
- Ciaran Byrne (Category B International Rookie), who receives the No.48 worn by Jordan Doering in a club record 18 games.
