Hawthorn fans have plenty to get excited about heading into next year with new jumper numbers revealed for a dozen Hawks, including the clubs’ 10 recruits.

Draftees Cam Mackenzie, Josh Weddle, Bailey Macdonald, Jack O'Sullivan, Henry Hustwaite and Josh Bennetts along with fellow new faces Karl Amon, Lloyd Meek, Cooper Stephens and Fergus Greene all received their new numbers this week. 

Meanwhile, two other Hawks have also made the switch to new significant digits.

3 – Jai Newcombe

Following a breakout 2022 season which saw him finish runner-up in Hawthorn’s best and fairest, Jai Newcombe has made the switch from number 44 to 3.

And while he has begun to establish a name for himself in the number 44, Newcombe will continue his career donning one of Hawthorn’s most well-known numbers.

The historic number has previously been worn by arguably one of the greatest to play the game, Leigh Matthews.

A Hawthorn legend, Matthews finished his career with four premierships and won the club's best and fairest a record eight times, adding significantly to the story of the number 3.  

The number was most recently worn by Brownlow Medallist Tom Mitchell and four-time premiership star Jordan Lewis.

Jonathan Hay, Anthony Condon, Bob Williams, Ron Nalder, John O'Mahony feature among the players who played 100 games or more for the club while donning the famous number. 

7 – Ned Reeves

Young ruckman Ned Reeves will take on the jumper number 7, vacated by former captain Ben McEvoy who recently retired after 252-game career, including 161 in the brown and gold.

Since arriving to the club in 2014, McEvoy spent his entire time at Hawthorn wearing the number 7 and in a fitting succession will now handover to his mentee in Reeves. 

McEvoy spent the last few seasons taking Reeves under his wing, helping the youngster take some big strides in his development as a ruckman this year. 

Other 100-plus game Hawks to pull on the number 7 include Gary Ayres, Michael Osborne, Luke McCabe, Neil Pearson and Ian Law.

10 – Karl Amon

After wearing number 15 at Port Adelaide, Karl Amon will take over jumper number 10, most recently worn by Jaeger O'Meara. 

Endorsed by the first First Nations Hawthorn player to play 100 games for the club in Chance Bateman, Amon will now wear the number that the 2008 premiership player wore across his career. 

This follows Brad Hill's time in the jumper between 2012-2016, while other Hawks to don the number 10 include the likes of John Kennedy Snr, David Polkinghorne and Ray Wilson.

17 – Lloyd Meek

Newcomer Lloyd Meek will launch his career in the brown and gold wearing the number 17. 

The number was made famous by Michael Tuck who holds the club record for the most senior games (426), most finals (39), most grand finals (11) and most premierships (7).

Other 100-plus gamers to have worn this double digit includes Paul Hudson and Daniel Chick. 

26 – Fergus Greene

Fergus Greene joins an impressive list of well-known brown and gold figures to don the number 26. 

The jumper was made famous by Hawthorn legend Peter Hudson, who many consider to be the best full-forward of all time. 

Four-time premiership player Rodney Eade and three-time premiership player Liam Shiels also were some fellow 100-plus game players to pull on the number 26.

Other new numbers

New recruit Cooper Stephens has taken on the number 21, while Pick 7 Cam Mackenzie will begin his career in the number 28.

Fellow top 20 pick Josh Weddle will take over the number 37, vacated by Ned Reeves.

Rookie Josh Bennetts has been handed the number 41, while fellow draftee Bailey Macdonald will take over the reins of 42.

Jack O’Sullivan will play his first year in the number 43 and Henry Hustwaite will now acquaint himself with the number 44, following Jai Newcombe's switch. 

 

All the Hawthorn player numbers for 2023

1. Harry Morrison

2. Mitch Lewis

3. Jai Newcombe

4. Jarman Impey

5. James Worpel

6. James Sicily

7. Ned Reeves

8. Sam Frost

9. Changkuoth Jiath

10. Karl Amon

11. Conor Nash

12. Will Day

13. Dylan Moore

14. Jack Scrimshaw

15. Blake Hardwick

16. Lachlan Bramble

17. Lloyd Meek

18. Max Lynch

20. Chad Wingard

21. Cooper Stephens

22. Luke Breust

23. Jacob Koschitzke

24. Denver Grainger-Barras

25. Josh Ward

26. Fergus Greene

27. Ned Long

28. Cam Mackenzie

29. Jai Serong

30. Sam Butler

31. Connor Macdonald

32. Finn Maginness

33. Tyler Brockman

34. Fionn O’Hara

35. Josh Morris

36. James Blanck

37. Josh Weddle

38. Max Ramsden

39. Emerson Jeka

40. Seamus Mitchell

41. Josh Bennetts

42. Bailey Macdonald

43. Jack O’Sullivan

44. Henry Hustwaite