With delistings, trades, retirements and free agency, the level of player turnover within the AFL is currently at a never before seen level.

One constant within the AFL landscape, however, is how clubs retain their history, and there is no greater link to the past than the jumpers that have remained so consistent over time.

From the premierships in the 1970s, to the struggles of the 1980s, to the resurgence of the 1990s up until the current day, one constant has been the royal blue and white stripes of North Melbourne, and the numbers on the players’ backs.

While different numbers become available every year, some of the all-time historic numbers of this football club are up for grabs heading into 2022.

With Callum Coleman-Jones still yet to announce a number, and a raft of new draftees set to enter the club in the not too distant future, who will continue the legacy of some of these jumpers as North moves into the future?

*Note - game and goal tallies are reflective of games played in the number in question, not necessarily the players’ entire North Melbourne career

6:

Last worn by:
Taylor Garner: 2017-2021 (15 games, 13 goals)

The names:
Jock Cordner: 1935-1941 (88 games, 8 goals)
Honours: 1938 Syd Barker Medal

John Dugdale: 1955-1970 (248 games, 358 goals)
Honours: 1968 Syd Barker Medal

Arnold Briedis: 1972-1983 (161 games, 279 goals)
Honours: 2x premiership player (1975, 1977), North Melbourne leading goal kicker (1980)

Ian Fairley: 1984-1996 (211 games, 134 goals)
Honours:1996 premiership player

Shannon Grant: 1998-2008 (243 games, 323 goals)
Honours: 1999 premiership player, 1999 Norm Smith Medal, 2001 Syd Barker Medal

Lachie Hansen: 2009-2017 (138 games, 81 goals) 

14:

Last worn by:
Trent Dumont: 2015-2021 (113 games, 26 goals)

The names:
Charlie Gaudion: 1932-1937 (74 games, 9 goals)
Honours: North Melbourne coach (1956-57)

Gerald Eastmure: 1954-1961 (121 games, 129 goals)

Trent Dumont: 2015-2021 (113 games, 26 goals)

18:

Last worn by:
Shaun Atley: 2011-2021 (234 games, 45 goals)

The names:
Jock McCorkell: 1948-1953 (97 games, 2 goals)
Honours: Syd Barker Medal (1952)

Tom Allison: 1963-1970 (106 games, 61 goals)

Paul Feltham: 1971-1976 (123 games, 76 goals)
Honours: 1975 premiership player

Wayne Carey: 1990-2001 (240 games, 671 goals)
Honours: 2x premiership captain (1996, 1999), 4x Syd Barker Medal (1992, 1993, 1996, 1998), 7x All-Australian (1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000), 4x All-Australian Captain (1993, 1998, 1999, 2000), 2x Leigh Matthews Trophy (1995, 1998), 5x North Melbourne leading goal kicker (1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000), North Melbourne Hall of Fame, North Melbourne Team of the Century (Captain), AFL Hall of Fame

Shaun Atley: 2011-2021 (234 games, 45 goals)

21:

Last worn by:
Dom Tyson: 2019-2021 (6 games, 1 goal)

The names:
Kevin McMahon: 1950-1959 (118 games, 11 goals)

John Byrne: 1975-1983 (98 games, 71 goals)
Honours: 1977 premiership

Corey Jones: 2001-2010 (157 games, 216 goals)
Honours: North Melbourne leading goal kicker (2007)

25:

Last worn by:
Robbie Tarrant: 2010-2021 (174 games, 44 goals)

The names:
Xavier Tanner: 1977-1985 (91 games, 65 goals)
Honours: 1977 premiership player

Donald McDonald: 1983-1992 (147 games, 160 goals)
Honours: North Melbourne leading goal kicker (1984)

Robbie Tarrant: 2010-2021 (174 games, 44 goals)
Honours: Syd Barker Medal (2016)

27:

Will Walker: 2018-2021 (6 games, 4 goals)

The names:
Laurie Dwyer: 1956-1970 (201 games, 34 goals)
Honours: 2x Syd Barker Medal (1961, 1967)

Keith Greig: 1971-1985 (294 games, 48 goals)
Honours: 1975 premiership player, 2x Brownlow Medal (1973, 1974), Syd Barker Medal (1980), All-Australian team (1983), AFL Hall of Fame, AFL Team of the Century (wing), North Melbourne Hall of Fame (legend status), North Melbourne Team of the Century

Darren Crocker: 1987-1998 (141 games, 113 goals)
Honours: 1996 premiership player

31:

Last worn by:
Connor Menadue: 2021 (7 games)

The names:
Corey McKernan: 1993-2001 (182 games, 233 goals)
Honours: 2x premiership player (1996, 1999), All-Australian team (1996), Leigh Matthews Trophy (1996)

David Hale: 2003-2010 (129 games, 119 goals)
Honours: North Melbourne leading goal kicker (2008)

34:

Last worn by:
Charlie Ham: 2021 (0 games)

The names:
Ross Henshaw: 1971-1983 (167 games, 11 goals)
Honours: 2x premiership player (1975, 1977)

David King: 1994-2004 (241 games, 145 goals)
Honours: 2x premiership player (1996, 1999), 2x All-Australian (1997, 1998)

Jamie Macmillan: 2010-2020 (167 games, 46 goals)

42:

Last worn by:
Tom Campbell: 2019-2021 (12 games, 7 goals)

The names:
Scott McMahon: 2007-2015 (124 games, 28 goals)