Carlton’s newest recruit Dale Thomas has opted for the No.39 guernsey made famous by the Premiership player Ang Christou as the number he will wear on the back of his dark Navy Blue guernsey.
But Thomas, who wore No.13 into 157 senior matches through eight seasons at Collingwood, has pitched for the 39 most recently worn by Frazer Dale for vastly different reasons.
As he posted in a recent tweet: “Looking forward to wearing the number 39 on my back next year like two of my heroes Warwick Capper and Heath Shaw”.
Christou, a 150-gamer from 1991-2002, is the only Carlton player in history to have his name etched into the No.39 locker, having played the required 100 senior matches to qualify.
Amongst the 12 Carlton players to have previously worn the No.39 guernsey are the one-gamers Peter Bevilacqua and Peter White.
Bevilacqua, League football’s only known Italian-born player, completed his maiden senior appearance for the Blues 50 years ago, in the 18th round of 1953 against North Melbourne at Arden street.
White, just 18 when he played his one and only senior game, against Collingwood in Round 8, 1989.
Tragically, he would be lost at sea, together with his father and childhood friend, in a fishing accident off the coast of Port Campbell in late 1996.
The history of No.39
Dale Thomas has opted for the No.39 guernsey made famous by the Premiership player Ang Christou.
