SYDNEY forward Tom Papley will deepen his family connection at the club when he wears his grandfather's No.11 from next season.
Papley played his first 40 games with No.41 on his back, but defender Jeremy Laidler's retirement created the opportunity for him to continue his family's legacy.
Max Papley – one of two of the 21-year-old's grandfathers who played for South Melbourne in the 1960s – wore No.11 for 45 of his 59 matches before switching to No.17 in his final season.
The 1966 Swans club champion formed a dynamic duo with triple Brownlow medallist Bob Skilton.
Papley will now honour his grandfather more than half a century later by donning the No.11.
"Through family history, I've chosen the No.11," Papley told Sydney's website.
"Max is on the locker, so I thought it'd be a good bit of history if one day I could get a premiership cup next to my name and get my name up there as well, which would be pretty special.
"I had two years in No.41, played 40 games (and) it was good to me. I thought I'd change things up a bit.
"I had a think about it when 'Laids' retired. Laids was a good servant to it. I had another couple of weeks to think about it then (thought), 'Yeah, it'd be a good piece of history to take it on'."
Papley's mother's father, Jeff Bray, played alongside Max Papley from 1964 to 1966 and made 34 senior appearances.
The Swans' newest draftees have also found out what numbers they will wear in their debut season.
Sydney's top selection, speedster Matthew Ling, will wear No.19 – made famous by Michael O'Loughlin – while his former Geelong Falcons teammate Tom McCartin will don No.30.
James Bell (32), Ryley Stoddart (33), Jake Brown (41), Angus Styles (45) and Joel Amartey (46) round out the jumper allocations.
Dual Brownlow medallist and club games record-holder Adam Goodes' No.37 will not be used for the third straight season
