CHRISTIAN Petracca will emerge from his wrecked first AFL season with a new number after assuming the guernsey of the traded Jimmy Toumpas.
On Tuesday, Melbourne announced Petracca, a keen NBA follower, asked to don the No.5 strip for next season in tribute to Los Angeles Clipper Chris Paul (however, Paul wears a No.3 guernsey).
The club has suggested Petracca could now be nicknamed CP5, due to Paul's nickname of CP3.
The Demons' No.5 has been worn by a number of distinguished club greats including Keith 'Bluey' Truscott, Fred Fanning and David Schwarz.
Petracca, 19, missed the entire 2014 season after being selected with the second pick in the 2014 NAB AFL Draft following a pre-season knee injury.
He ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee when he was leading for a mark at training in February and had a reconstruction.
He's not yet in full training but is aiming for a round one AFL debut next season.
Petracca was allocated the No.26 jumper when he arrived at Melbourne, which will now be vacant in 2016.
Toumpas moved to Port Adelaide last month in a complex trade that ultimately delivered Paul Seedsman to Adelaide, Ben Kennedy to Melbourne and Jeremy Howe to Collingwood.
Kennedy will wear the Demons' No.35, which was not taken this season, while Howe's No.38 is yet to be allocated.
Ex-Essendon midfielder Jake Melksham will wear No.18, which was most recently adorned by newly retired veteran Daniel Cross, while former Giant Tomas Bugg will revive the No.32 after it was not used this season.
Delisted midfielder Jordie McKenzie's No.13 is also yet to be assigned, as is No.27 (Aidan Riley) and No.40 (Mark Jamar).
Rookie Joel Smith has inherited No.44 from the delisted Rohan Bail.
The Demons announced earlier on Tuesday they were committed to drafting Viv Michie as a rookie later this month after delisting him from the senior list.
