GEELONG, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 15: Joel Selwood of the Cats thanks fans after the match in which he overtook Reg Hickey to become the Cats longest serving captain during the 2018 AFL Round 04 match between the Geelong Cats and the St Kilda Saints at GMHBA Stadium on April 15, 2018 in Geelong, Australia. (Photo by Adam Trafford/AFL Media/Getty Images)

Geelong have announced their jumper numbers for the upcoming season, with the club deciding to leave the recently-available No.14 jumper vacant for at least 2023.

Following the retirement of champion captain Joel Selwood, who called time on his career with the Cats after four premierships and a club-record 355 games, the Cats were left to decipher whether to hand over the Geelong great's guernsey number in the first season after his 16-year-long reign at Kardinia Park.

Being the 18th team to do so ahead of the new season, the Cats announced the jumper numbers for their nine new players this week, with the No.14 not selected.

Top 10 draft pick and local product Jhye Clark will be alongside the vacant No.14 locker however, taking the No.13 guernsey ahead of his first season at the Cattery.

Next to him will be trade recruit Jack Bowes, who will don the No.12 after moving from the Gold Coast Suns.

AFL Practice Match - Geelong v Collingwood
GEELONG, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 26: Oliver Henry of the Magpies marks the ball during the AFL Practice Match between the Geelong Cats and the Collingwood Magpies at GMHBA Stadium on February 26, 2021 in Geelong, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

Other high-profile additions in Tanner Bruhn and Ollie Henry, who returned to the Geelong area through the off-season, will wear the No.4 and No.36 jumpers respectively.

Draftees Phoenix Foster (No.19), Osca Riccardi (21), Oscar Murdoch (31) and Ted Clohesy (40) were also handed their jumper numbers for their debut seasons.

Irish recruit Oisin Mullin has been handed the No.34 jumper, returning to the same locker he initially was appointed to before opting out of a move to Geelong ahead of the 2022 season.

Geelong will begin their 2023 campaign on Friday, March 17 at the MCG against Collingwood, with a decision on Selwood's successor as captain yet to be confirmed.