WITH Port Adelaide’s playing group set to return to the training this week there will be some new faces in new numbers hitting the track at Alberton Oval for the first time.

Xavier Duursma has inherited the famous No. 7 guernsey last worn by Brad Ebert in a move that was foreshadowed late last year.

The young wingman’s favourite number is seven, having worn it during his junior career in Victoria. He sent a heartfelt text message to Ebert upon his retirement cheekily requesting to carry on the No. 7 tradition before he’d even cleared his locker.

New recruit Orazio Fantasia will continue to sport the No. 13 he wore for 72 of his 80 games with Essendon, while fellow trade acquisition Aliir Aliir has claimed the No. 21 locker vacated by Duursma.

Next Generation Academy product, Lachie Jones will be hoping his Woodville-West Torrens premiership No. 34 will bring him as much luck at Port Adelaide, while fellow draftees Taj Schofield and Ollie Lord have been handed the No. 37 and No. 30 guernseys respectively.

Second year forward, Dylan Williams has shuffled up the number order to take on the No. 23 left by Jack Watts.

Meanwhile, Tyson Goldsack has headed in the other direction. Penned in to don the No. 1 in the SANFL in 2020, now on the club’s AFL list, Goldsack will fill the No. 50 jumper last worn by Cam Sutcliffe.

New Guernsey Number History

No. 7 – Xavier Duursma

AFL players: John Rombotis (1997), Brett Chalmers (1998-99), Peter Burgoyne (2000-09), Nathan Krakouer (2010), Brad Ebert (2012-20)

Premiership players: S. Hosking (1921), L. Hodge (1928), W. Whicker (1936), C. Johnston (1937), L. Roberts (1939), A. Reval (1942), Peter Marrett (1951, 55), Allan Blagrove (1956), John Dewhirst (1957), David Gill (1958, 59, 62, 63, 65), Mark Dawson (1979), Russell Ebert (1980, 81), Roger Delaney (1989, 92, 94, 95, 96), Peter Burgoyne (1998, 2004)

No. 13 – Orazio Fantasia

AFL players: Danny Morton (1998-2000), Chris Hall (2003), Ben Eckermann (2005), Mitch Farmer (2008), Cam O’Shea (2011-16), Todd Marshall (2017-19)

Premiership players: Lincoln (1914), J. Bennett (1937), N. Hender (1939), K. Obst (1942), Dean Trowse (1951), Roger Clift (1954, 55, 56, 57), John McBain (1962), Robert Philp (1963, 65), Geoff Blethyn (1977), Len Warren (1981), Rohan Smith (1988, 89, 92, 94, 95, 96)

No. 21 – Aliir Aliir

AFL players: David Brown (1997-98), Scott Bassett (2001-02), Michael Wilson (2003-08), Matt Thomas (2009-13), Jared Polec (2014-18), Xavier Duursma (2019-20)

Premiership players: J. Ashley (1914), L.C. Dayman (1921), A. Reval (1936), L. Rudd (1937), John Robinson (1954, 55), Jeff Potter (1959, 62, 63, 65), Len Warren (1977), Mark Williams (1979, 80), David Brown (1988, 89, 92, 96, 98), Michael Wilson (2004)

No. 23 – Dylan Williams

AFL players: Matthew Bode (1999-2000), Adam Morgan (2002-03), Brad Symes (2004-07), Matthew Lobbe (2010-16), Jack Watts (2018-19)

Premiership players: W.H. Oliver (1914), J. Taylor (1921), R. Conole (1928), L. Shupelius (1937), Ray Whitaker (1942, 51), Don Thompson (1955, 56, 57, 58, 59), Anthony Giles (1977, 79, 81), Phil McGuinness (1996, 99)

No. 30 – Ollie Lord

AFL players: Darryl Poole (1997-99), Cain Ackland (2001), Troy Chaplin (2004-12), Sam Colquhoun (2013-15), Joe Atley (2017-20)

Premiership players: E. Mucklow (1928), J. Heath (1937), Reg Beaufoy (1965), Ian Bradmore (1979, 80), Roger Kerr (1988), Darryl Poole (1995, 99)

No. 34 – Lachie Jones

AFL players: Nathan Steinberner (1997-99), Brent Guerra (2000-03), Nathan Lonie (2006), Adam Cockshell (2007), Jarrad Redden (2012-15), Will Snelling (2016),

Premiership players: Nathan Buckley (1992)

No. 37 – Taj Schofield

AFL players: Stuart Dew (1997-99), Steven Brosnan (2000), Allan Murray (2002), Fabian Deluca (2006-08), Wade Thompson (2009), Kane Mitchell (2013-14), Jesse Palmer (2016),

Premiership players: nil

No. 50 – Tyson Goldsack

AFL players: Cam Sutcliffe (2019-20)

Premiership players: Anthony Bamford (1996)