HE has often been referred to as Robbie Gray’s protégé, and now Zak Butters will take on the number 9 guernsey vacated by Gray following his retirement.

Butters is one of five players taking on new guernsey numbers for 2023, with any draftees claimed in this month’s AFL National Draft to round out the new player numbers.

The 22-year-old has worn number 18 since being drafted back in 2018, and his move comes after Gray offered the number to him.

It means the number 18 will now be worn by new recruit Jason Horne-Francis, who wore number 6 at North Melbourne and 33 at South Adelaide before that.

Karl Amon’s departure sees another new recruit Junior Rioli take on the number 15. Rioli previously wore 44 at West Coast and 17 at Glenelg.

Forward Francis Evans will retain the number 31 he wore at Geelong after the guernsey was left vacant by the delisting of Sam Skinner. 

As well as Butters, Kane Farrell and Jake Pasini have elected to change numbers with Farrell to shift into the number 6 guernsey vacated through the retirement of Steven Motlop and Pasini to shift from 48 into the number 24 guernsey Farrell wore on 49 occasions since being drafted in 2017.

Number 35 remains preserved and 42 will not be used given it is reserved while skipper Tom Jonas wears number 1, leaving numbers 32, 37, 40 and 45 vacant ahead of the draft.

Here is a brief overview of the new player numbers for 2023 so far:

6 – Kane Farrell

Most recently worn by: Steven Motlop (2018-2022)

Premiership players: John Ford, Leslie ‘Bro’ Dayman, William Whicker, Allan ‘Bull’ Reval, Christopher Johnston, Kevin Growden, Marx Kretschmer, Graham Cooper, Andy Porplycia, Phil Harrison, Jarrad Schofield

100 gamers: Leslie ‘Bro’ Dayman, Jack Dermody, Kevin Growden, Marx Kretschmer, Graham Cooper, Andy Porplycia, Phil Harrison, Jarrad Schofield, Danyle Pearce

9 – Zak Butters

Most recently worn by: Robbie Gray (2013-2022)

Premiership players: Clifford Cocks, Clifford Keal, Kenneth Johnson, Ken Obst, Albert E. Hollingworth, Howard Abbott, John Skelley, James Sawford, Ian Hannaford, Arthur Robert ‘Bob’ Marrett, Richie Bray, Graham Virgo, Milan Faletic, Mark Williams, Scott Spalding, Anthony Darcy, Alf Steed, Josh Carr  

100 gamers: Samson ‘Shine’ Hosking, Harold Logan, Bob Meers, Clifford Keal, Ken Obst, Anthony Williams, Mark Williams, Brayden Lyle, Josh Carr, Jacob Surjan, Robbie Gray

15 – Junior Rioli

Most recently worn by: Karl Amon (2015-2022)

Premiership players: Thomas A. H. McFarlane, Albert Y. Olds, Thomas Quinn, James Prideaux, Kenneth E. West, John Skelley, Arthur Franklin, Don Fletcher, Ken Tierney, Ross Agius, David Hynes, Michael Wilson, Darryl Wakelin, Jared Poulton, Byron Pickett

100 gamers: Robert ‘Bob’ Johnson, Ken Tierney, David Hynes, Michael Wilson, Jared Poulton, Kristian Depasquale, Michael Wilson, David Rodan, Karl Amon

18 – Jason Horne-Francis

Most recently worn by: Zak Butters (2019-2022)

Premiership players: John Londrigan, Gordon Beck, Norman Terrell, Mervyn Hay, James W. Doyle, Ken Obst, Ivor Dangerfield, Marx Kretschmer, Tom Garland, Norman Tull, Eric Freeman, David Granger, Richard Ambrose, Kane Cornes

100 gamers: Tom Garland, Eric Freeman, David Granger, Kane Cornes

24 – Jake Pasini

Most recently worn by: Kane Farrell (2018-2021)

Premiership players: John W. Robertson, Frederick G. L. Galliford, James W. Doyle, Lew Roberts, Ivor Dangerfield, Kevin Salvemini, Allen Greer, Tony Hannan, Anthony Martyn, Mark Tylor, Bryan Beinke

100 gamers: Bruce Nyland, Mark Tylor, Bryan Beinke

31 – Francis Evans

Most recently worn by: Sam Skinner (2022)

Premiership players: Harold Logan, Trevor Sorrell, Julian Wait

100 gamers: Trevor Sorrell