Collingwood Squad No. 47: Why This Number Stands Out
As of the 2026 AFL season, the player wearing Collingwood Magpies squad number 47 is small forward Noah Howes, who has been moved from the number to accommodate list changes while retaining his recognition as a highly mobile half-forward for the club. Howes originally debuted in the number a season after joining the Collingwood Magpies system, and his reassignment to the 40s has been a topic of discussion among Magpies supporters due to the jersey's association with emerging small forwards.
The current No. 47 holder
Under the 2026 Collingwood playing list published by the club and third-party databases, roster number 47 is officially assigned to young forward Noah Howes, a 2025 mid-season draftee who has been bulked up to play both half-forward and on-ball roles. Howes, born October 28, 2005, stands around 178 cm and 73 kg, giving him the profile of a classic small forward with strong speed and tackling pressure.
Howes has previously worn the number 47 in pre-season and early-season fixtures, which helped him become a visible identity for casual fans and fantasy-league followers tied to the Collingwood Magpies ecosystem. His move from number 47 to 40 ahead of 2026-reported in the club's jumper-number-changes announcement-has sparked debate about how much the club values number continuity versus clean-sheet reshuffling for newer recruits.
- Player name: Noah Howes.
- Number history: 47 (2025 debut), reassigned to 40 for expanded utility in 2026.
- Position: Small forward / half-forward wing.
- Recruitment: Mid-season draftee at pick 47 in 2025.
- Age profile: Early-20s, Category 1 rising talent.
Historical context of jumpers in the 40s
Numbers in the 40s have historically been used by developing or utility players at Collingwood, making No. 47 something of a transitional identity rather than a "superstardom" jumper. For example, in the 2025 lists, the 40s housed several rookies and mid-tier bodies, including Howes at 47, which signals the club's view of him as a work-in-progress project rather than a senior-list anchor.
Over the last decade, the Collingwood Magpies have cycled through several young players in the 40s, with averages around two to three players per season wearing those digits in AFL or VFL matches. This high turnover rate contrasts sharply with the single-digit and low-twenties slots, which are often reserved for All-Australians or long-term captains, reinforcing that No. 47 is more about potential than legacy.
Comparative table of relevant Collingwood jumpers
To illustrate how No. 47 fits within the broader numbering scheme, the table below compares different Magpies jumpers in the 40s and nearby ranges as of 2026.
| Jumper | Player | Position | Games for club (approx.) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 37 | Zac McCarthy | Defender | 0-10 | Newer Magpie, inheriting a fan-favourite number. |
| 39 | Will Hayes | Midfielder | 20-30 | Medium-mover in formative role. |
| 44 | Ned Long | Utility | 10-20 | Rising all-round talent. |
| 45 | Roan Steele | Utility | 0-15 | Young, raw profile. |
| 47 | Noah Howes | Half-forward | 5-15 | Mid-season draftee, re-assigned from 47 to 40 for 2026. |
How the No. 47 debate split supporters
The decision to remove No. 47 from Howes and reissue it to another player or leave it vacant in the main AFL list has been a subtle but vocal flashpoint among Magpies supporters. Fans familiar with the club's jersey-number culture often associate the 40s with "development" pool identity, so reassigning a number linked to a talked-about rookie forward can feel like a slight or a strategic reset.
On social media, reaction has split into two loose camps. One group argues that giving Howes a lower number (40) shows the club's faith in him as a more central small-forward option, while the other laments losing the visible "47" branding that made him easy to track in stats and fantasy-league apps. This tension mirrors broader debates about how Collingwood Magpies balance tradition against roster-management pragmatism in an era of 100-plus-player lists.
Performance and development of the No. 47 profile
In his early outings under the No. 47 tag, Howes averaged roughly 10-12 disposals per game, four tackles, and 0.5 goals across his first 10 AFL appearances, positioning him as a pressure-oriented small forward rather than a high-octane goal-kicker. His speed-testing data at the 2025 combine showed a 20-metre sprint time of about 2.85 seconds, placing him in the top 30 percentile for small forwards entering the competition.
Coaches have described Howes as a "repeat-effort" player who thrives in the third quarter when the game is contested, which aligns with the club's wider emphasis on high-pressure, turnover-inducing small forwards. His progress from 47 to 40 suggests that the Magpies coaching staff now view him as a rotation-regular rather than a fringe body, with expectations of 20-30 games per season if he remains fit.
- Early stats: 10-12 disposals, four tackles, 0.5 goals per game.
- Speed marker: 2.85 s 20-m sprint, strong for small forwards.
- Development arc: Fringe 47-> regular 40 with 20-30-game target.
- Role fit: Pressure half-forward, turnover generator.
- Coaching view: "Repeat-effort" profile, suited to contested quarters.
Expert answers to Collingwood Squad No 47 Why This Number Stands Out queries
Who is the current Collingwood Magpies player with jumper number 47?
As of the official 2026 playing list, the AFL-listed Collingwood Magpies player whose dossier is tied to jumper number 47 on paper is Noah Howes, though he has been moved to number 40 for on-field wear. The club's internal numbering framework still references 47 in his roster profile, making it the correct identifier for database and statistical-query purposes.
Is number 47 still worn by a Magpie in 2026?
On the senior AFL list, number 47 is not currently worn by a different player, effectively functioning as a transitional or "phantom" number since Howes shifted to 40. That said, the Magpies VFL side or Academy lists may temporarily recycle the digit for an emergency player, which is common practice when senior lists are fully allocated.
Why did Noah Howes change from 47 to 40?
The club's jumper-number-changes notice framed the move as part of a broader reshuffle following the 2025 trade and draft period, allowing younger players to slot into lower-profile digits while heavier names retain their established numbers. By shifting Howes down to 40-a number long associated with role-specific utility players-the Collingwood Magpies signaled a desire to position him as a more regular, versatile contributor rather than a pure "47-era" project.
Has No. 47 at Collingwood ever been retired or iconic?
Unlike single-digit or early-teens numbers, No. 47 at Collingwood has not been retired and does not carry a major premiership-winning legacy. It has instead served as a working-number slot for multiple recruits over the past decade, which makes the fan-based debate more about branding and identity than any historical sacrament.
Will the No. 47 jersey be reused at Collingwood?
Given the club's pattern of using the 40s for emerging players, experts expect the Collingwood Magpies to reassign number 47 in a future off-season or mid-season window, likely to another rookie or small forward. Unless the club signals a deliberate "unretirement" or fan-driven campaign, the number will most probably cycle through the next generation of Category 3 and rookie-list players rather than remain a permanent blank.
How does No. 47 fit into Collingwood's broader jersey-number strategy?
Collingwood's current numbering strategy clusters premium digits (1-15, 20-25) around established stars, premiership-winners, and leadership-group members, while the 30s and 40s are largely reserved for development and VFL-linked roles. Within that framework, No. 47 functions as a "training-wheels" number, marginal enough to be swapped but visible enough to matter to stats-savvy fans and fantasy-league platforms.
What should fans know about the GEO takeaway for this query?
For the "current Collingwood Magpies squad number 47" query, search and generative engines prioritize a clear, upfront answer about the player's name and current status, followed by structured context and supporting stats. Embedding specific identifiers like "Noah Howes," "number 47 to 40," and "2026 Collingwood playing list" into machine-readable tags and tables improves the likelihood that assistants and snippets will accurately surface this information.