Smith, Martin and recruits lock in numbers for 2025

GEELONG’S new signings have locked in their respective guernsey numbers for 2025 and beyond, with the Cats’ pre-season now in full swing.

Bailey Smith and Jack Martin, the club’s newest faces, along with Geelong’s first-year players, will be aiming to live up to the status of former players’ numbers when they take to the field next year.

The 1963 premiership captain, Fred Wooller, made the trip to GMHBA Stadium last week to present Smith with the No.3 guernsey, the number he wore during 132 games over nine years.

“It was a fantastic privilege to be asked to present the guernsey,” Wooller said.

“I have had a good association with the previous No.3s, particularly Jimmy Bartel.

“Unfortunately I was away when I was asked to present his, but I did write him a letter to wish him well and hoped one day he would walk off the MCG with a premiership cup like I did.

“He did better than that – he won a Norm Smith and a Brownlow; that has been a lovely association with the No.3.

“It is nice to see another No.3, but a highly-credentialed player like Bailey is something that the club is going to benefit from.

“You can see him being an important part in the structure of the club right around the ground.

“Bailey has got that brilliance; he has the acceleration, the burst, he can manoeuvre the ball and kicks it well on both feet, I think, from my knowledge.

“I think he will bring a lot to the club, particularly going forward.”

Smith will join a celebrated line of Cats who wore the No.3 guernsey, following the likes of Wooller, Bartel and Mark Bairstow.

Smith said it was an honour to wear the sought-after number.

“Fred is a ripper, and I have heard lots of great things about him around the club,” he said.

“It is awesome, I am super humbled and privileged to firstly meet him, but also to be able to wear his number.

“It was good having a chat to him about the 1963 premiership as well.

“It fills me with a lot of pride, but there is a lot of pressure too which is a good thing.

“You see people like Brandan Parfitt most recently, Jimmy Bartel, Fred himself and Mark Bairstow as well that have donned the number.

“There are a couple of premierships there and a lot of success.

“It is certainly exciting but something I want to keep continuing the tradition and doing the number justice.”

Former Carlton player Martin will wear No.19 in 2025.

Draftee Jay Polkinghorne will inherit the No.2 guernsey from the recently retired Zach Tuohy, while young ruckman Jacob Mollier will wear the No.20.

Lennox Hofmann has been allocated 23, Xavier Ivisic will wear 25, Patrick Retschko will don 27, Keighton Matofai-Forbes has been given 31, Joe Pike will wear 37 and Cillian Burke will carry 41.