MELBOURNE has allocated its first lot of guernsey numbers for 2016.

Former Bomber Jake Melksham will wear No.18, previously worn by Daniel Cross, who retired at the end of last season and is now the club’s development and rehab coach.

Ex-Giant Tomas Bugg has claimed the No.32 jumper, which was vacant in 2015.

Ben Kennedy, who crossed from Collingwood, has taken No.35, which was not filled this year.

Rookie Joel Smith has inherited No.44, which Rohan Bail wore for 70 of his 71 matches with the Demons from 2010-15. For the record, Bail holds the record for the most Melbourne matches in No.44. He also wore No.41 in his first game and only match in 2009.

Two of Melbourne’s best players from the 2000s, Brad Green and Cameron Bruce, wore No.18 and No.32 respectively. Green (254 matches) and Bruce, who played 224 for the Dees, have played the most games for Melbourne in those numbers. 

Dual Melbourne premiership captain Noel McMahen wore No.35 in his outstanding career. Melbourne Cricket Club chairman Steven Smith and 1981 best and fairest winner also wore No.35 for most of his career at the Demons, before finishing in No.1.  

There has been just one change in players switching numbers from 2015 to next year, with 2014 No.2 NAB AFL Draft pick Christian Petracca moving from No.26 to No.5. He has taken over No.5 from Jimmy Toumpas, who has switched to Port Adelaide.

The No.5 jumper has been worn by distinguished club names such as Keith ‘Bluey’ Truscott, Fred Fanning and David Schwarz.

Petracca, who is an avid NBA follower, requested No.5 to be close in initials and number to one of his NBA heroes Chris Paul (aka CP3), who plays for the Los Angeles Clippers. Will Petracca now be known as CP5?

The No.13 jumper, worn by Jordie McKenzie this year, has not been filled at this stage. Other vacant numbers at the moment include No.26 (Petracca), No.27 (Aidan Riley), No.38 (Jeremy Howe) and No.40 (Mark Jamar).

2016 Melbourne numbers

1 – Jesse Hogan

2 – Nathan Jones

3 – Christian Salem

4 – Jack Watts

5 – Christian Petracca

6 – Chris Dawes

7 – Jack Viney

8 – Heritier Lumumba

9 – Jack Trengove

10 – Angus Brayshaw

11 – Max Gawn

12 – Dom Tyson

13 –

14 – Lynden Dunn

15 – Billy Stretch

16 – Dean Kent

17 – Sam Frost

18 – Jake Melksham

19 – Ben Newton

20 – Colin Garland

21 – Cameron Pedersen

22 – Please note: Viv Michie wore No.22 in 2015. He was recently delisted by the club, but it is intending to redraft him via the NAB AFL Rookie Draft. The club has held No.22 for him for 2016.

23 – Bernie Vince

24 – Jay Kennedy-Harris

25 – Tom McDonald

26 –

27 –

28 – Oscar McDonald

29 – Jayden Hunt

30 – Alex Neal-Bullen

31 – Jack Grimes

32 – Tomas Bugg

33 –

34 –

35 – Ben Kennedy

36 – Jeff Garlett

37 – Aaron Vandenberg

38 –

39 – Neville Jetta

40 –

41 – Mitchell White

42 – Jake Spencer

43 – James Harmes

44 – Joel Smith

45 – Matt Jones

46 – Dean Terlich

47 – Max King