Cameron Ling's famous No.45 Geelong jumper will not have time to gather mothballs, with the Cats' first pick in last week's AFL draft, Joel Hamling, to wear the number in 2012.
Ling holds the games and goals record for No.45, and Hamling, who hails from Western Australia, will be looking to continue the legacy of the retired premiership skipper.
The similarities in their surnames is about as much as they have in common, with Hamling a 194cm key forward, who came through the Clontarf Academy after growing up near Broome.
Ling actually came to Geelong as a forward prospect, but become one of the great run-with midfielders of the past decade playing 246 games.
The No.6 worn by Brad Ottens will be passed on to small forward Lincoln McCarthy, while Cameron Mooney's No.21 has been inherited by Jordan Murdoch.
Darren Milburn's No.39 has been assumed by the Cats' second pick in the draft, West Australian tall forward Shane Kersten.
Mature-age pick Orren Stephenson has been given No. 23, while Jed Bews will wear 24, with Matthew Stokes already having the No.27 worn by Bews father Andrew in the 80s.
The announcement of the numbers comes on the same day the Cats revealed they are building a multi-million dollar training base in the new suburb of Armstrong Creek.
Construction is scheduled to begin in June and be completed by early 2013.
"In an environment of equalisation with the draft and salary cap, this is an area where we can build and sustain a competitive advantage," Geelong chief executive Brian Cook said.
"This facility will see us have a training venue that will provide our incredibly skilled and accomplished staff with an equally impressive platform to get the most out of our playing group."
"As a welcome benefit to this agreement, Simonds Stadium will now be freed up for increased community use and opportunities for other worthwhile events in the Geelong region."