THREE days into his Essendon career Paul Chapman has been handed the No.3 guernsey, perhaps the club's most famous number.
Chapman, who started training on Monday at the Bombers, will take on the number made prominent by Dick Reynolds, the three-time Brownlow medallist viewed as Essendon's greatest player.
Ruckman/forward Paul Salmon also wore the number in two premierships for the Bombers in 1985 and 1993, and Chapman said the new number resonated with the next phase of his brilliant career.
"I didn't know of any numbers that were available [when I joined the club] so when three was handed out obviously there's been at least two greats that have worn it in the past," Chapman said on Wednesday.
"I'm very happy to wear number three. [It's] something different, a fresh start, new colours, new number. I'm just really looking forward to the opportunity of playing in the number three."
Chapman enters the pre-season fit and ready, and eager to show people that his injury-impacted 2013 was a one-off.
Before his hamstring troubles of last season, which restricted him to just eight appearances for Geelong, the three-time premiership forward and Norm Smith medallist had played 20 or more games in each of the seasons between 2009-2012.
"It's easy to do that, just look at the previous year and say he was injured last year so what's going to happen for next year?" the 32-year-old said.
"I've been pretty durable. I've played 14 seasons and 250 games so I can handle the demands of AFL footy.
"People say 'Is it a punt?' Have they taken a punt drafting me? I don't think it is a punt at all. I don't really have much to prove but I'm confident in my body and I'm glad that the Bombers were confident in me and my body as well.
"I wouldn't have wanted to continue playing if I didn't think I had something to give or could contribute.
"That was never an issue for me at all. It was just whether other clubs thought I'd be able to last seasons out and I believed that I could, I know I can, and I know that the Bombers have faith in me."
Essendon remains in the headlines for its scandal-ridden season, but Chapman was adamant the issue played no role in his decision to join the Bombers through the trade period.
"I did want to continue playing [but] I was not just going to play anywhere. I wanted to play at a club who I believed was a chance of doing something special and that's the only reason why I'm playing now, to hopefully do that again," Chapman said.
"You think about it, but what can I do about it? It's out of my control.
"The club guaranteed that things were getting worked out and it would get worked out so it wouldn't affect the players too much. I was happy with that."
Chapman said he hadn't spoken with coach Mark Thompson about his role but hopes it will be spent 60 per cent in the midfield.
Essendon's other new numbers were announced on Wednesday, with Mark Baguley moving to No.12 and rookie forward Cory Dell'Olio taking on No.29.
Essendon's recruits have also been allocated their numbers. Shaun Edwards (No.19), Zach Merrett (No.27), Kurt Aylett (No.43) and Orazio Fantasia (No.46) will don their new numbers, as will rookies Fraser Thurlow (No.44), Johnny Rayner (No.45) and Patrick Ambrose (No.47).
