I’m a very iconic number of this football club. I made my first appearance in round three in 1987, and have since appeared in 398 games for 245 wins, 149 losses and four draws.

After the agony of a losing Grand Final in 1991, I was lucky enough to be present for our winning grand finals in 1992 and 1994. I was again on the losing end of the season decider in 2005, but bounced back to take the flag in 2006.

Mainy was my first partner, and what a partner he was. Debuting in round three in 1987, his tireless running was a trademark throughout his 201 game career. He played a key role in our first two premierships, and we’ll always remember that photo of Mainy leaping off the bench after the siren sounded in 1992. Although knee problems hampered his last three seasons, only playing nine games, his legacy will live on forever. Mainy was a member of the West Coast Eagles team of the decade, and then again in the Team 20, the best team from the club’s first 20 years and a two-time All Australian.

Then in 2001, a pacey young midfielder named Chris Judd was handed the number three. Little did we all know how good this kid was going to be.  Juddy made an immediate impact, taking little time to adjust to the tempo of AFL footy.

He went on to play 134 games, including captaining the side in our 2006 premiership. Judd also has the honour of being the club’s first Brownlow medallist, which he won as a 20-year-old in 2004. One of the best we’ve seen in any jumper, Juddy won two Best and Fairest awards in his time at the club, as well as a Leigh Matthews Trophy, two All Australian jumpers and three Ross Glendinning Medals.

 
I was tragically retired between 2008 and 2010 after the passing of club great, and inaugural club number three, Chris Mainwaring.

After the jumper returned to the field in 2011, another young Victorian was given the honour of wearing me, his name was Andrew Gaff. We were lucky enough to play finals together in his first two seasons, with Gaffy playing a key role in providing run down the wings, driving his opponents (and nearly me) until they can go no more. Gaff is already an All Australian, John Worsfold Medallist and a key component of our drive to a fourth flag for the number three.

Jumper no.3 timeline
1987 Chris Mainwaring 19 games (won 9, lost 10)
1988 Chris Mainwaring 20 games (won 12, lost 8)
1989 Chris Mainwaring 20 games (won 7, lost 13)
1990 Chris Mainwaring 21 games (won 14, drew 1, lost 6)
1991 Chris Mainwaring 21 games (won 18, lost 3)
1992 Chris Mainwaring 25 games (won 18, drew 1, lost 6)
1993 Chris Mainwaring 12 games (won 6, lost 6)
1994 Chris Mainwaring 23 games (won 18, lost 5)
1995 Chris Mainwaring 9 games (won 5, lost 4)
1996 Chris Mainwaring 22 games (won 15, lost 7)
1997 Chris Mainwaring 1 game (won 0, lost 1)
1998 Chris Mainwaring 3 games (won 1, lost 2)
1999 Chris Mainwaring 5 games (won 1, lost 4)
2002 Chris Judd 22 games (won 10, lost 12)
2003 Chris Judd 23 games (won 12, drew 2, lost 9)
2004 Chris Judd 23 games (won 13, lost 10)
2005 Chris Judd 24 games (won 19, lost 5)
2006 Chris Judd 23 games (won 18, lost 5)
2007 Chris Judd 19 games (won 12, lost 7)
2008 Retired
2009 Retired
2010 Retired
2011 Andrew Gaff 17 games (won 12, lost 5)
2012 Andrew Gaff 24 games (won 16, lost 8)
2013 Andrew Gaff 22 games (won 9, lost 13)
2014 Andrew Gaff 22 games (won 11, lost 11)
2015 Andrew Gaff 25 games (won 18, drew 1, lost 6)
2016 Andrew Gaff 22 games (won 15, lost 7)

NB The history of jumper no.3 includes only players who have represented the club at senior level during qualifying rounds and finals

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