Recruits Matt Crouch, Riley Knight and James Podsiadly have received their new guernsey numbers.
Crouch will take over jumper No.44, famously worn in two premierships by defender Peter Caven. 2008 Club Champion Nathan Bock, Stuart Bown, Sean Wellman and Tom Warhurst are the other players to have donned the number in AFL games for Adelaide. It was most recently owned but not wore in a game by rookie Ben Dowdell.
Podsiadly has moved into the locker next to the eldest Crouch brother, Brad, and will don the No.1
At Geelong, the premiership player wore No.31, which is owned at Adelaide by young midfielder Jarryd Lyons. Previous players to wear the No.1 in an AFL game for the Crows are Richard Tambling, Nick Gill, Andrew Crowell, Lucas Herbert, Greg Anderson and Romano Negri.
The Crows' second pick in last week’s AFL National Draft, Knight will wear No.39. The number was mostly recently owned, but never worn in an official game by rookie Tim Klaosen. Only four players have donned the No.39 for Adelaide; Martin Mattner, Will Young, Linden Stevens and Jonathon Ross.
As previously announced, Eddie Betts will take over the No.18, which was worn in 227 games by his cousin, Crows champion Graham Johncock.
Young Crows Sam Kerridge and Rory Laird have also switched numbers.
Kerridge, who wore No.29 for two seasons, has taken over Bernie Vince’s old No.17. Vince played 119 games in the number after starting his AFL career in No 28. He made the change in 2008 after the departure of Scott Welsh, who played 129 games in No 17.
“I’ve always worn No 17, right through my junior footy, so I was keen to get it,” said Kerridge, who played 11 AFL games this season for a career total of 12.
Promoted from the rookie list for season 2014, Laird has moved from the No.46 to Kerridge’s No.29.
Kerridge, James Sellar, James Thiessen, Brent Williams and Anthony Ingerson are the other players to wear No.29 for the Crows.
This leaves Nos.42, 43, 46, 47, 48 and 49 available for the up to four rookies selected on Wednesday. Ian Callinan, who is continuing at the Club as a development coach and State League player, will retain the No.37.
