2017 Jumper Numbers Revealed...

Rogers switches to No. 18

By Ken Casellas

The annual numbers game is over and Claremont supporters will soon be getting accustomed to enjoying the skill of a handful of league players who will be sporting a new number in 2017.

One of the most significant changes is that robust, no-nonsense defender Bailey Rogers has switched from No. 29 to No. 18, the number worn by ruckman-forward Darcy Cameron in the past couple of seasons. Cameron has been drafted by the Sydney Swans and Tigers fans will watch his progress in the AFL with great interest.

The most noteworthy fact about the 20-year-old Rogers and his new number is that he will be following in the footsteps of some outstanding Claremont defenders who wore the No. 18 with pride and distinction. They include the great Sammy Clarke, who won the Sandover Medal in 1933 and 1934 as well as the club fairest-and-best awards in those years.

Then there was the magnificent Ken Caporn, a champion full-back who appeared in 273 league matches for the Tigers between 1943 and 1958 and was the club’s fairest-and-best player in 1951 and 1954.

Other splendid defenders who donned the No. 18 jumper include John (Buck) Rogers, a member of Claremont’s 1964 premiership side, the mercurial Ken Hunter and in recent years, Tom Matson.

Apart from Rogers, other 2016 league players who will have a new number this year are Ryan Lim (from No. 21 to No. 6), Jared Hardisty (from No. 25 to No. 13), Zac Langdon (from No. 43 to No. 21), Matt Guelfi (from No. 46 to No. 32) and Bailey Banfield (from No. 51 to No. 34).

Lim, a midfielder with a tremendous work ethic, takes the No. 6 from Oliver Tate, who returned home to Victoria last season. The No. 6 conjures some wonderful memories of Tigers stars of yesteryear, including the incomparable Kevin Clune, a 1964 premiership star and a dual club fairest-and-best winner who played 231 matches for Claremont.

Other No. 6 men who spring to mind include Jeremy Guard, the 1997 fairest-and-best winner and club captain for three years, including the 1996 premiership, Brad Wira, a veteran of 122 league matches and a fine player for Footscray and the Fremantle Dockers, dashing half-back flanker Brad Reynolds, Paul Medhurst, a goalkicking star in Claremont’s 2012 grand final victory over East Fremantle, and fearless midfielder in recent times in Matt Orzel, who made 119 senior appearances for the Tigers.

Hardisty takes up the No. 13 worn last season by Rowen Powell, who will play for the Subiaco Lions this year. The best-known Claremont No. 13 is Tony Beers, who made 107 league appearances for the Tigers and was club captain in 1988 and a premiership player in 1987 and 1989.

Donning the famous No. 25 this year will be the much-loved Jess Laurie, a member of Claremont’s 2011 and 2012 premiership sides. The fearless defender is back in Perth after spending the past three years in Melbourne. This number was made famous by Claremont’s current CEO Graham Moss, the 1981 premiership-captain-coach, four-time club champion in his stellar 254-game career for the Tigers and the 1976 Brownlow medallist when starring for Essendon.

High-flying forward Tom Lee is back at Claremont after a stint with St Kilda and he will not wear the No. 7 he displayed when a member of the club’s 2012 grand final triumph over the Sharks. Nor will he wear the No.11 he donned for the 2011 grand final win over Subiaco.

Spectacular and damaging small forward Jack Bradshaw will retain his favourite No. 7 jumper and Jye Bolton, last season’s club champion and Sandover medallist, will continue with the No. 11 on his back.

Lee will wear the No. 3 jumper, taking over from Hugo Breakey, who is working as an engineer in Melbourne. Before Breakey’s two seasons with the No. 3 jumper, champion midfielder Luke Blackwell donned that number for six years, played in two premierships sides, won the 2011 Sandover Medal and four club fairest-and-best awards. In the early years of the club nippy rover Jackie Hooper played 162 league matches, was club champion in 1935 and played in Claremont’s first three premierships, in 1938-39-40. 

Nick Winmar, returning to the Tigers this season after appearing in 22 senior matches in 2013, will wear No. 19 (worn last season by Jake Waterman, who has been drafted by the West Coast Eagles). Two No. 19s stand out for the Tigers --- powerhouse forward Wayne Harvey, a 1964 premiership star and veteran of 217 league matches, and the recently-retired David Crawford, who excelled in attack and defence and notched 200 senior appearances for the Tigers.

Recruits Anthony Morabito and Charlie Le Fanu have been allotted numbers 12 and 16, respectively. The No. 12 jumper has been worn with distinction by Lorne Cook (229 league matches and 1968 club champion) and Anthony Jones, captain in 2007 and 2008 and a veteran of 147 league matches.

The most famous No. 16 Claremont jumper was worn by Denis Marshall, club captain-coach in 1969-70-71, a four-time fairest-and-best player, a runner-up for the Sandover Medal and runner-up for the Brownlow Medal when playing for Geelong.