The Sydney Swans have allocated playing numbers for season 2016 with promising midfielder Callum Mills presented the most famous of them all.

Mills will wear the No. 14 jumper made legendary by former captains Bob Skilton and Paul Kelly – and most recently worn by premiership player Craig Bird.

A Swans supporter growing up, the significance of the number was not lost on the new draftee.



“I jumped at the chance of taking the No. 14 jumper,” Mills said.

“For me, to pave my own way in the number will be great. Just to honour those who have come before me while making the number my own will be a privilege."

Mills, from Terrey Hills, continues a recent tradition of New South Welshmen assuming the famous digits given Kelly hailed from Wagga Wagga and Bird grew up in Nelson Bay.

The number sat idle in the wake of Kelly’s retirement in 2002 with Bird resurrecting the jumper five seasons later.

Adam Goodes’ No. 37 will follow a similar path.

It will be put away indefinitely, but not forever, out of respect for the dual Brownlow Medallist.

Irishman Colin O’Riordan will take over from Mike Pyke in the No. 38, continuing the jumper’s international flavour.

Alex Johnson will be the only formerly listed Swan to change numbers. The premiership defender, who is recovering from his latest knee operation, takes the No. 2 left vacant by retiree Rhyce Shaw.

Former West Coast Eagle Callum Sinclair will don the No. 18 which went unworn last season while Michael Talia will feel right at home in the No. 32 which was the same number worn during his time at the Western Bulldogs.

New draftees Tyrone Leonardis (No. 30), Jordan Dawson (No. 34), Tom Papley (No. 41), Sam Murray (No.46) and Kyle Galloway (No. 47) round out the list.

1 – James Rose

2 – Alex Johnson

3 – Jarrad McVeigh

4 – Dan Hannebery

5 – Isaac Heeney

6 – Tom Mitchell

7 – Harry Cunningham

8 – Kurt Tippett

9 – Abe Davis

10 – Zak Jones

11 – Jeremy Laidler

12 – Josh Kennedy

13 – Toby Nankervis

14 – Callum Mills

15 – Kieren Jack

16 – Gary Rohan

17 – Jack Hiscox

18 – Callum Sinclair

19 – Tom Derickx

20 – Sam Reid

21 – Ben McGlynn

22 – Dean Towers

23 – Lance Franklin

24 – Dane Rampe

25 – Ted Richards

26 – Luke Parker

27 – Dan Robinson

28 – Nic Newman

29 – George Hewett

30 – Tyrone Leonardis

31 – Harry Marsh

32 – Michael Talia

33 – Brandon Jack

34 – Jordan Dawson

35 – Sam Naismith

36 – Aliir Aliir

37 -

38 – Colin O’Riordan

39 – Heath Grundy

40 – Nick Smith

41 – Tom Papley

42 – Xavier Richards

43 – Lewis Melican

44 – Jake Lloyd

45 – Jordan Foote

46 – Sam Murray

47 – Kyle Galloway