LANCE Franklin will retain the No.23 he wore for 162 of his 182 games with Hawthorn after Sydney Swans teammate Jordan Lockyer agreed to change jumper numbers to accommodate the superstar recruit. 

 

Franklin, who continued the No.23's proud history at Hawthorn, won a best and fairest award, two Coleman Medals and two premierships wearing the jumper.   

 

That, however, did not guarantee him his preferred number when he moved to the Swans as a free agent, with Lockyer occupying the No.23 for the past two seasons.

 

Fortunately for Franklin, Lockyer was happy to move to No.18 (vacated by Jesse White) ahead of his third season, with injury restricting him in the No.23 and preventing him from making his debut.

 

Franklin said he was thrilled to be able to wear the No.23 with the Swans.

 

"Jordan Lockyer was a good bloke about giving me the number and I really appreciate it," Franklin said.

 

"The number is important because I played in it for so many years, so I think it’s more of a luck thing for me more than anything.

 

"Jordan is in number 18 and I’m sure he’s looking forward to jumping into it.

 

"It’s about just getting on a list or playing a game, your jumper number doesn’t matter as long as you’re playing football for the Sydney Swans."

 

Lockyer, who suffered knee and hamstring injuries through his first season with the Swans, said he was looking forward to a fresh start in his new number.

 

The key defender made ground in the NEAFL in his second season and should push to make his debut in 2014.

 

"Obviously 23 was the number I chose on day one and I was pretty excited and became quite attached to it," he said.

 

"I was a bit hesitant to give up the number, but after speaking to Lance and speaking to others at the footy club, I’m now really excited about wearing the number 18.

 

"Number 18 was the number I wore pretty much all through my junior footy."

 

In another change, former rookie Dane Rampe has moved from No.43 to the No.24 vacated by premiership hero Jude Bolton.

 

Bolton expressed his desire to pass his number on to the second-year Swan after last year's preliminary final loss to Fremantle.  

 

"I was really excited and of course I said ‘yes’ and we made it kind of official to the playing group on our Mad Monday," Rampe said.

 

"I don’t think he wanted to put too much pressure on me but of course I was incredibly humbled and incredibly honoured really.

 

"The thing about Jude was that he epitomised the ‘Bloods culture’ and the club ethos.

 

"If I can go out and just put my body on the line and wear my heart on my sleeve every week, then that’s what Jude was known for."

 

New recruits Zak Jones (No.10), George Hewett (No.29), Toby Nankervis (No.13) and Allir Allir (No.36) were also allocated their jumper numbers, as were rookies Lloyd Perris (No.41), Patrick Mitchell (No.45).

 

Recycled players Jeremy Laidler and Tom Derickx will wear No.11 and No.19 respectively.