Adelaide’s No.23 guernsey – made famous by Club legend Andrew McLeod – will be worn by star forward Izak Rankine next season.
Rankine will move from No.22 to 23 and become the fifth consecutive Indigenous player to wear the jumper after McLeod, Jared Petrenko, Charlie Cameron and Shane McAdam.
“I was born on the 23rd (of April) so it’s my favourite number,” Rankine said.
“And growing up I tried to wear it as much as I could, but with a lot of the junior guernseys they were smallest to biggest so I’d often end up with number three or something like that.
“When I got to Gold Coast it was already taken by Sean Lemmens, so I went for 22 which was the next closest.
“Then when I came to Adelaide, Shane (McAdam) already had 23 so I stayed with 22.
“But as soon as it opened up I was keen to wear it. I know the history behind it with a lot of Indigenous players having been in the number and I want to do it proud.
“And having previously been Bunji’s number, he is such a key part of the history of the Club, I loved watching him play when I was younger so I can’t wait to wear it myself.”
In other guernsey changes for 2024, Gold Coast recruit Chris Burgess will wear No.21, while draftees Daniel Curtin will be in No.6, Charlie Edwards in No.11 and Oscar Ryan in No.22.
Full list of guernsey numbers for 2024:
1 Chayce Jones
2 Ben Keays
3 Sam Berry
4 Lachlan Murphy
5 Matt Crouch
6 Dan Curtin (new)
7 Riley Thilthorpe
8 Josh Rachele
9 Rory Sloane
10 Luke Pedlar
11 Charlie Edwards (new)
12 Jordan Dawson
13 Taylor Walker
14 Jake Soligo
15 Brayden Cook
16 Max Michalanney
17 Will Hamill
19 Zac Taylor
20 Mitch Hinge
21 Chris Burgess (new)
22 Oscar Ryan (new)
23 Izak Rankine (new)
24 Josh Worrell
25 Ned McHenry
26 Harry Schoenberg
27 Luke Nankervis
28 Nick Murray
29 Rory Laird
30 Wayne Milera
31 Billy Dowling
32 Darcy Fogarty
33 Brodie Smith
34 Elliott Himmelberg
35 James Borlase
37 Patrick Parnell
38 Lachlan Sholl
40 Hugh Bond
41 Jordon Butts
43 Reilly O’Brien
44 Lachlan Gollant
45 Kieran Strachan
48 Mark Keane
