Franklin was given Dermie's #23, Murphy and Gibbs didn't have a problem being given Fitzpatrick and Kernahan's numbers respectively, and Dangerfield at the Crows looks a young gun wearing Ricciuto's #32.
Yeah but Buddy was given 23 in his 2ND year. I am pretty sure he started in No. 38 or something just like Roughead started in a high 30's number before being given number 2 in his 2nd year.
In Clarkson's first year as coach all the draftees were given high numbers in their first year 
That's true WP in the Hawks' case. Hawthorn at the time had most of their early numbers taken. In 2004 every senior listed player had a number inside 40.
Now that I've checked it's interesting when Clarkson took over he didn't pass onto the new draftees any number guernsey inside 30. So obviously Hardwick is bringing this idea to Richmond from his time at Hawthorn. In fact the free guernsey numbers above 30 were handed out to the new draftees in numerical order corresponding to their draft order.
Hawthorn guernsey changes 2004 to 20054. Rayden Tallis
7. Luke McCabe -------> Michael Osbourne (had #40 in 2004)
13. Lance Picioane
23. Nathan Thompson
33. Kris Barlow --------> Josh Thurgood (promoted rookie - had #42 in 2004)
34. Mark Graham --------> Bo Nixon (trade from Collingwood)
35. Adrian Cox -------------> Jarryd Roughead (ND pick 2)
38. Ben Clifton# ----------> Lance Franklin (ND pick 5)
40. Michael Osbourne -----> Jordan Lewis (ND pick 7)
41. Michael Rix# ----------> Thomas Murphy (ND pick 21)
42. Josh Thurgood# -------> Matt Little (ND pick 26)
43. Shaun Bergin# --------> Simon Taylor (ND pick 53)
44. Paul Shelton# ---------> Roury Kirkby# (rookie pick 2)
45. --------------------------> Clinton Young# (rookie pick 18 )
46. --------------------------> Thomas Willday# (rookie pick 34)
47. --------------------------> Kristan Height# (rookie pick 48 )
I still think this is all mumbo jumbo but hey if it worked for Hawthorn on their way to a flag then I can't complain if Hardwick tries it with us.
