The Lions’ first-round draft pick, Billy Longer, will wear the #5 jumper in 2012. The number, which was most recently worn by Brendan Fevola, has previously been made famous at the Club by such names as five-time Fitzroy Club Champion John Murphy, AFL Hall of Famer Bernie ‘Superboot’ Quinlan, and dual Premiership player Brad Scott.
Sam Docherty has taken over Mitch Clark’s #1 guernsey, which has been previously worn by two of the Club’s most revered figures in Lions Legend Kevin Murray and former Fitzroy Captain Paul Roos.
Meanwhile, fellow draftees Elliot Yeo and Patrick Wearden will wear #26 and #37 respectively.
Jordan Lisle, who came to the Lions from Hawthorn during Trade Week, will take #19 from recently retired ruckman Jamie Charman, while fellow big man Ben Hudson will don the #22 guernsey vacated by Tom Collier.
Local Queensland product Dayne Zorko, the Club’s final acquisition from Trade Week, will wear #15 most notably worn by Fitzroy’s Eddie Goodger and triple Premiership full-back Mal Michael.
Four Lions have also chosen to change numbers next year - midfielder Ryan Harwood will swap #26 for Chris Johnson’s famous #2, rookie Richie Newell will go from #47 to #25, and forward Bryce Retzlaff will trade his #37 for #8. Coincidentally, the last wearer of the #8 jumper, Matt Austin, also traded it for his previous #37 guernsey.
The final, and arguably most significant, change is young Tasmanian Josh Green (previously #42) who will be looking to fill some big shoes by donning Luke Power’s former #6 guernsey from 2012. Power played a Club-record 282 senior matches with the Lions in the #6, before announcing his retirement from the Club.
For more pictures from the Lions Family Fun Day at Yeronga on the 4th February please visit our Facebook page.
The full 2012 jumper list is as follows:
1. Sam Docherty
2. Ryan Harwood
3. Sam Sheldon
4. Jared Polec
5. Billy Longer
6. Josh Green
7. Jed Adcock
8. Bryce Retzlaff
9. Ash McGrath
10. Daniel Rich
11. Pearce Hanley
12. James Hawksley
13. Callum Bartlett
14. Brent Staker
15. Dayne Zorko
16. Jonathan Brown
17. Claye Beams
18. Todd Banfield
19. Jordan Lisle
20. Simon Black
21. Daniel Merrett
22. Ben Hudson
23. Matthew Leuenberger
24. Joel Patfull
25. Richard Newell
26. Elliot Yeo
27. Josh Dyson
28. Patrick Karnezis
29. Andrew Raines
30. Jack Redden
31. James Polkinghorne
32. Cheynee Stiller
33. Amon Buchanan
34. Jesse O’Brien
35. Ryan Lester
36. Matt Maguire
37. Patrick Wearden
38. Tom Rockliff
39. Josh Drummond
40. Niall McKeever
41. Mitch Golby
42. Justin Clarke
43. Rohan Bewick
44. Aaron Cornelius
45. Brad Harvey
46. Sam Michael
47. Jack Crisp
48. Stephen Wrigley
