St Kilda's number 10 selection at the national draft, Mattaes Phillipou, has made an instant impression within club walls, requesting to wear the famous No. 2 guernsey for his debut year in 2023.
The No. 2 guernsey has been dormant since Jake Carlisle hung up the boots at the conclusion of the 2021 season, having been retired for the 2022 season in honour of the late Danny Frawley.
It is uncommon for a draftee to make such a bold request so early into their tenure at a new club, with Phillipou clearly unfazed by the pressure of expectation that will inevitably ensue.
In an ironic twist of fate, it is former No. 2 guernsey wearer and St Kilda Player Development Manager Tony Brown that Phillipou reached out to in order to secure the number.
"I actually messaged Tony Brown this morning asking if I could get in quick," Phillipou told SEN.
"I was doing some history research on the club and I think the No. 2 would be an awesome number.
"Tony's got back to me and he said he'll get onto it and it should be fine, so hopefully that's all locked in."
St Kilda list boss James Gallagher is excited about Phillipou joining the Saints, telling AFL.com that they "couldn't call his name out quickly enough" after he slid to their pick 10.
"He's a pretty enthusiastic kid Mattaes - one of the things that really appealed to us about him," he told AFL.com.
"We're gonna have to hold him back from getting started pretty early... he's keen to get started the young fella."
No. 2 isn't the only guernsey number up for grabs, with numbers 10, 14, 18, 21, 25, 31 and 39 available after a number of off-season list changes at Moorabbin.
St Kilda enters the rookie draft having already selected James Van Es, Olli Hotton and Isaac Keeler alongside Phillipou at the national draft.
