Hawthorn are set to announce its new jumper numbers at an open training session on Saturday. The No.3 guernsey is currently vacant following Jordan Lewis’ departure, and several Hawks are in the mix to don the number in 2017.

Three is an iconic number in sport. It’s a field goal in American football, a three-point shot in basketball, a triple bogey in golf, and the number of athletes standing atop an Olympic podium.

The No.3 was voted the greatest AFL/VFL jumper number by the Herald Sun in 2014. With nine brownlow medalists and three No.3 players in the team of the century (ironic?), it’s not hard to see why.

Three is just as notable a number at Hawthorn. Of the seven men who have donned the guernsey since 1951, five of them have played in a Hawthorn premiership, six of them have amassed well over 100 games, and all of them are immensely respected inside and outside the club.

Arguably the greatest player to don the number is Hawthorn legend, Leigh Matthews. Matthews won three premierships and five best and fairest awards while wearing No.3 for the Hawks. His 915 goals as a midfielder is a record that still stands.

No matter who is presented with the No.3 guernsey on Saturday, Hawks fans will expect him to play with the tough, competitive and uncompromising spirit with which his predecessors played.


Players who have donned Hawthorn's No.3 guernsey:

1925 Stan McKenzie, 17 games
1926 – 1930 Dick Logan, 58 games
1930 – 1933 Mark Daffey, 37 games
1932, 1934 – 1944 Bob Williams, 136 games
1933-1935 Roy Rodda, 34 games
1934 Brian Geary, 3 games
1934 Stan Ogden, 5 games
1937 Alf Clay, 2 games
1938 Will Taylor, 1 game
1944-1946 Andy Brannan, 31 games
1947 – 1951 Ken Hopper, 66 games
1951 – 1960 John OMahoney, 112 games.
1959 – 1966 Ron Nalder, 121 games
1967 – 1971 Peter Chilton, 37 games
1971 – 1985 Leigh Matthews, 332 games (previously No.32)
1987 – 1997 Anthony Condon, 145 games
1997 – 2005 Jonathan Hay, 149 games
2005 – 2016 Jordan Lewis, 264 games (previously No.40