The number on the back of each guernsey does more than just differentiate the players out on the field – it also provides them with a football identity, and presents them with their own slice of Club history.
And history was made in 2014, with a number of Lions players etching themselves in the record books for future generations.
Below is a snapshot of some of the more noteworthy achievements in terms of matches played in a particular guernsey number.
> When Captain Jed Adcock led the team out onto Simonds Stadium in Round 23, he moved past five-time Fitzroy best and fairest and Brownlow Medallist Allan Ruthven into second position overall in terms of games played in the Number 7 at the Club. He sits just 21 games behind 1975 best and fairest winner Warwick Irwin – a total he should reach sometime in the next couple of seasons.
> Ash McGrath finished his 14-year AFL career with a Club-record 214 games in the Number 9 guernsey – 50 more than second placed Matt Rendell. McGrath can now boast about being the only player in 128 years of combined VFL/AFL history to have played 200-plus games in the Number 9.
> Daniel Rich became just the third player in Club history to have his name etched on the Number 10 locker door when he ran out for his 100th match back in Round 2. Unfortunately Rich ruptured his ACL the following week, leaving him stranded on 101 games. Marcus Ashcroft (308 games) and Laurie Serafini (140) are the only two players to have worn the Number 10 more times at the Lions.
> Pearce Hanley might be just four games shy of his 100-game milestone, however only 84 of his 96 AFL matches have been played in the Number 11. The Irishman spent his first three seasons in the Number 42, before making the switch in the lead-up to his breakthrough 2011 campaign.
> The Number 16 Lions guernsey has been, and will forever be, associated with inspirational centre half-forward Jonathan Brown. Brown’s illustrious playing career ended on 256 games – which almost twice the amount of the next best Number 16, Owen Abrahams (132). Whoever inherits the Number 16 guernsey, be it next year or in 2016, will have some pretty huge shoes to fill.
> Daniel Merrett further stamped himself as the ‘most capped’ Number 21 at the Lions, finishing the season on 171 games – 21 more than Fitzroy Brownlow Medallist Wilfred ‘Chicken’ Smallhorn, who ranks second. Other notable Number 21s include Alan Thompson, Mark Zanotti, and Percy Parratt.
> Ruckman Matthew Leuenberger is just six games shy of becoming the fourth player in Club history to wear the Number 23 in 100 games for the Club. He could join the likes of Justin Leppitsch (227 games), Norm Brown (160), and Bob Henderson (137) in having his name on the locker in 2015.
> Mr Reliable Joel Patfull overtook spiritual Bears leader Roger Merrett as the Club’s longest serving Number 24 earlier this season, and looks headed to become the first player in Club history to wear it in 200 games. Patfull finished the season on 182 games, 18 clear of Merrett.
> Jack Redden had his name etched on the Number 30 locker earlier this year when he lined up for his 100th match against Geelong in Round 2. An ankle injury, however, halted his remarkable streak of consecutive games at 112. He remains just 31 games shy of Robert Copeland’s record number of games in the jumper (143).
> James Polkinghorne finished his tenure at the Lions just six games shy of becoming just the third player to have his name etched on the Number 31 locker. Bert Clay (157 games) and Gary Lazarus (132) remain the only two players to have worn the Number 31 in 100 or more VFL/AFL games.
> Tom Rockliff’s name now appears on the Number 38 locker door, courtesy of a memorable 100th match against Collingwood. Rockliff now appears alongside former Fitzroy great Leon Harris (186 games), who also happened to be the 24 year-old’s coach with VIC Country in the U18s.
> Mitch Golby now has a share of second place in terms of most games in the Number 41. Golby has played 51 matches – equal to Fitzroy’s Lee Murnane – but remains a fair way off Matthew Kennedy’s AFL record of 188 matches.
> In just three seasons, Justin Clarke is already eyeing off the record for most Club games in the Number 42. Clarke currently sits second with 36 games – just 19 shy of former Lion Tristan Lynch.
> In the final match of the 2014 season, Jordon Bourke became just the 14th player in history to play a senior match in the Number 45 jumper. Fitzroy’s Brad Gotch boasts the most with 40 matches.
> Like Bourke, fellow rookie Zac O’Brien is close to claiming the record for most games in the Number 47. O’Brien played five games in his debut AFL season, and is just seven behind current record-holder, and Lions teammate, Jack Crisp, who opted for the Number 5 guernsey last off-season. Only 11 players have worn that particular number in a senior game throughout the Club’s 128-year combined history.
Check out the full list of Brisbane Lions guernsey stats here
