What’s a number worth?

Plenty, if you ask the Magpie Army.

When a player is handed his Collingwood jumper, he’s not just wearing a number on his back. He is carrying the story of those who have gone before him.

For Jordan De Goey, the man in the No. 2, he will be wearing a number synonymous with Albert Collier, Wayne Richardson and Tony Francis.

In No. 7, it’s Adam Treloar’s turn to carry on the legacies left by George Hams, Ian Graham and Shane Morwood.

James Aish, in No. 14, will be the latest in a linage that includes Arthur Gooch, Graham Jenkin and a pair of Shanes in Watson and Wakelin.

As for Jeremy Howe, he has already made a name for himself in No. 38, albeit at Melbourne. He will continue in his number of choice, and use a locker bearing the name of Robert Hyde, winner of the 1976 Copeland Trophy.

Matthew Goodyear, who wore Howe’s No. 38 last year, will shift down the corridor to No. 27. It’s a number once worn by Murray Weideman, Con Britt and Craig Starcevich.

For the new faces, Tom Phillips takes on No. 21, a number linked to Mark Williams, Michael Christian and Sharrod Wellingham.

Rupert Wills inherits No. 33 from Patrick Karnezis, and Lee Adamson and David Cloke before him.

No. 39 has not been seen at senior level since the departure of Heath Shaw. Can Collingwood diehard Ben Crocker reintroduce it to the MCG?

Rookie Josh Smith inherits Paul Seedsman’s No. 40, and Tim Golds the No. 41, as was once worn by Nick Maxwell way back in 2003.

And while there are thirty centimetres in height between Darrean Wyatt and Jarryd Blair, the latter can lay claim to winning a flag in Wyatt’s new No. 47.

Collingwood’s 2016 playing list

1. Alex Fasolo
2. Jordan De Goey
3. Brent Macaffer
4. Brodie Grundy
5. Jamie Elliott
6. Tyson Goldsack
7. Adam Treloar
8. Tom Langdon
9. Jesse White
10. Scott Pendlebury
11. Jarryd Blair
12. Matthew Scharenberg
13. Taylor Adams
14. James Aish
15. Jarrod Witts
16. Nathan Brown
17. Jonathon Marsh
18. Travis Varcoe
19. Levi Greenwood
20. Ben Reid
21. Tom Phillips
22. Steele Sidebottom
23. Lachlan Keeffe*
24. Josh Thomas*
25. Jack Crisp
26. Marley Williams
27. Matthew Goodyear
28. Ben Sinclair
29. Tim Broomhead
30. Darcy Moore
31. Jackson Ramsay
32. Travis Cloke
33. Rupert Wills
34. Alan Toovey
35. Brayden Sier
36. Dane Swan
37. Brayden Maynard
38. Jeremy Howe
39. Ben Crocker
40. Josh Smith*
41. Tim Golds*
42. Retired
43. Adam Oxley
44. Corey Gault*
45. Jack Frost
46. Mason Cox*
47. Darrean Wyatt*

*Denotes rookies