SIX NEW FACES means six new guernsey numbers for Melbourne in 2022, adding another chapter to the club’s rich history.
Former Saint Luke Dunstan, who was the Demons’ first recruit of the off-season, will pull on the No.27 jumper, formerly worn by Aaron Nietschke on the training track.
Dunstan will be looking to match the efforts of Jared Rivers and Sean Wight in this guernsey, as the duo both played 150 senior games for the Dees in their respective eras.
First-round draft pick Jacob van Rooyen has taken Marty Hore’s No.21, which was most regularly worn by Steven Febey in the red and blue, while Blake Howes has been handed the No.22, which was owned by Aaron vandenBerg last year and worn 171 times by Bryan Kenneally.
Father-son recruit Taj Woewodin will wear the No.40 which Kye Declase owned in 2021, but it was ruckman Mark Jamar who made it his own, running out for the club on 155 occasions.
Judd McVee (No.41) takes over the locker of Jay Lockhart, while Andy Moniz-Wakefield will be the first Demon in the No.45 since Declan Keilty in 2019.
The remainder of Melbourne’s list, including all 23 premiership players, have decided to remain in their 2021 jumpers.
New Demon numbers:
21 – Jacob van Rooyen
22 – Blake Howes
27 – Luke Dunstan
40 – Taj Woewodin
41 – Judd McVee
45 – Andy Moniz-Wakefield
