Kayne Turner expects to return bigger and better in 2017 as he takes on a new number that’s close to his heart.

Turner will wear the number 28 guernsey this season, one that means a lot to his family.

“My father wore the number 28 in his junior days at Wodonga Bulldogs,” the small-forward told NMFC.com.au.

“When my brothers went into town to play footy there, they took it on. I played a senior year there and got to where the number as well. It’s a bit of a family number, so it’s pretty special to be able to have it on this year.”

Turner’s father, David, passed away when Kayne was just three-years-old. David himself was also a handy footballer, having won Wodonga's goalkicking seven times and being named at full-forward in the Ovens and Murray League's team of the century.

After several years in number 40, the 21-year-old is looking forward to debuting his newest digits in 2017.

“When I first started, I didn’t think about (wearing 28) too much, I was just trying to establish myself and I still am of course,” Turner added.

“I wanted to hopefully one day get it, but I wasn’t sure if I would. I thought if the opportunity arises, then I’d take the chance.

“I got a phone call from ‘Joycey’ (North GM Football Cameron Joyce) this year, I asked if it was available and he said yes, so I jumped at the opportunity.”

After hamstring troubles hampered the young gun’s 2016 campaign, Turner is looking forward to putting his hand up to be a more permanent fixture in North’s senior side this season.

“I’ve got a really good base, the hamstrings are feeling really strong,” he said.

“I set goals for myself; hopefully to just have a good JLT series, get through that unscathed, get a bit more game-time under my belt and then really get stuck into the season, hopefully in the senior side.

“We’ve got a lot of competition for spots at the moment, so it should be pretty interesting come round one for the coaches.”