With one day to go until Essendon opens the 2026 season against Hawthorn, Don The Stat reaches the final entry in its guernsey countdown with one of the most significant numbers in the club’s history — Guernsey Number 1 . Jumper Number 1 has long been associated with stars and leaders at Essendon, a number traditionally worn by players trusted with responsibility and influence. The story of Number 1 begins in 1911 , when guernsey numbers were first introduced for Essendon

With two days to go until Essendon opens the 2026 season against Hawthorn, Don The Stat continues its guernsey countdown with one of the club’s most enduring numbers — Guernsey Number 2 . The jumper has been worn consistently since numbers were introduced and has featured prominently across Essendon’s history. Guernsey Number 2 was first worn in 1911 , when jumper numbers were introduced during the finals series. The first Bomber to wear the number was Bill Busbridge , who

Day 3 of the Countdown to Round 1, 2026 brings us to Essendon Guernsey Number 3 , a jumper inseparable from greatness. The first Essendon player to wear number 3 was Len Bowe , who wore it in 1911 , when jumper numbers were first introduced. Bowe later became a premiership player, but the number’s true identity was forged in the decades that followed. Norm Beckton made number 3 a leadership jumper, playing 154 games , captaining Essendon, winning the 1928 Best & Fairest ,

Day 4 of the Countdown to Round 1, 2026 brings us to Essendon Guernsey Number 4 , a jumper worn by Brownlow medallists, captains and pioneers. The first Essendon player to wear number 4 was Allan “King” Belcher , who wore it during the 1911 finals series . Belcher later captained Essendon to the 1912 Premiership , though most of his career was spent in number 1. The jumper found early continuity through Len Bowe , who played 101 games in number 4 and was part of the 1912 P

Day 5 of the Countdown to Round 1, 2026 brings us to Essendon Guernsey Number 5 , one of the most prestigious jumpers the club has ever issued. The first Essendon player to wear number 5 was Fred Baring , who wore it during the 1911 finals series , when numbered guernseys were first introduced. Baring wore the number in 108 games across two stints , and wore the jumper in four Premiership seasons — 1911, 1912, 1923 and 1924 . The number became a symbol of leadership in the

Day 6 of the Countdown to Round 1, 2026 focuses on Essendon Guernsey Number 6 , a jumper deeply tied to Premiership success and some of the club’s most famous surnames. The first Essendon player to wear number 6 was Ernie Cameron , who wore it during the 1911 finals series , when numbered jumpers were first introduced. Cameron played 22 games across 1911 and 1912 , including Essendon’s 1911 Premiership . The number gained real prominence in the 1920s through Tom Fitzmaurice

Day 7 of the Countdown to Round 1, 2026 brings us to Essendon Guernsey Number 7 , a jumper steeped in leadership, resilience, and Premiership success. The first Essendon player to wear number 7 was Wally Chalmers , who wore it during the 1911 finals series , and across the early years of numbered jumpers. Chalmers played 50 games between 1911 and 1915 , including Premiership seasons in 1911 and 1912 . The number passed through the interwar years before finding stability wit

Day 8 of the Countdown to Round 1, 2026 brings us to the history of Essendon Guernsey Number 8 , a jumper that has been worn by Premiership players, prolific goal-kickers, and some of the club’s most durable performers. The first recorded wearer of number 8 was Billy Griffith , who wore it during the 1911 finals series , the first time Essendon adopted numbered guernseys. The early decades saw the number shared among short-term wearers before Jimmy Sullivan made it his own

As we continue the Countdown to Round 1, 2026 , Day 9 takes us through the long and varied history of Essendon Guernsey Number 9 — a number that has featured in Premiership teams, goal-kickers, and durable club servants. The first recorded wearer of number 9 was Dan Hanley , who wore it during the 1911 finals series , when numbered jumpers were first introduced at Essendon. From 1912 onward, the number became a permanent fixture, with Fred Kirkwood wearing it during Essend

With 10 days remaining until Essendon opens its 2026 season, the Don The Stat Guernsey Countdown reaches one of the most revered jumpers in football — Number 10 . Guernsey 10 was first worn by Jack Kirby during the 1911 finals series , the year Essendon introduced jumper numbers. Kirby was part of the 1911 Premiership side , immediately embedding the number in club folklore. The number gained early stability through Dan Hanley , a 1912 Premiership player , before becoming s

With 11 days remaining until Essendon’s 2026 campaign begins, the Don The Stat Guernsey Countdown continues with Number 11 . Guernsey 11 was first worn by Percy Ogden during the 1911 finals series , the season Essendon introduced jumper numbers. Ogden was part of the club’s 1911 Premiership team , ensuring the number’s history began with silverware. One of the first great custodians was Jack Kirby , who played 67 games across two stints and became the first recorded player

With 12 days remaining until Essendon’s 2026 season begins, the Don The Stat Guernsey Countdown continues with Number 12 . Guernsey 12 was first worn by Fred O’Shea during the 1911 finals series , the first season jumper numbers were introduced at Essendon. O’Shea was part of the club’s 1911 Premiership team , ensuring the number was tied to success from the outset. One of the earliest Premiership wearers was Jim Martin , who played 16 games in the number during Essendon’s

With 13 days remaining until Essendon’s 2026 campaign begins, the Don The Stat Guernsey Countdown rolls on with Number 13 . Guernsey 13 was first worn by Dave Smith during the 1911 finals series , the first season numbers appeared at Essendon. Smith was a member of the 1911 Premiership team and also represented Victoria in 46 first-class cricket matches , including two Tests for Australia . One of the earliest long-term custodians was Joe Harrison , who played 64 games in

With 14 days remaining until Essendon opens its 2026 season, the Don The Stat Guernsey Countdown continues with Number 14 . Guernsey 14 first appeared in Essendon colours during the 1911 finals series , worn by Paddy Shea , who went on to be part of Essendon’s 1911 Premiership team . One of the earliest long-term wearers was Charlie May , who played 83 games between 1922 and 1926 , including Premiership success in 1923 and 1924 . The number’s strongest historical associatio

With 15 days remaining until Essendon’s Round 1 clash with Hawthorn, the Don The Stat Guernsey Countdown continues with Number 15 . Guernsey 15 first appeared in Essendon colours during the 1911 finals series , worn by Bill Sewart , who would go on to be part of Essendon’s 1911 Premiership side . The first long-term wearer of the number was Roy Laing , who wore 15 across multiple stints between 1913 and 1925 , playing 131 games . Laing was a key contributor to Essendon’s 192

With 17 days to go until Essendon’s Round 1 clash with Hawthorn, the Don The Stat Guernsey Countdown turns to Guernsey Number 17 . The number was first worn during the 1911 finals series , when Les White became its first Essendon wearer following the introduction of jumper numbers. The first extended tenure in the number belonged to Bill Sewart , who wore 17 from 1912 to 1915 , playing 61 games and winning the 1912 Premiership . In the interwar period, Garnet Campbell bec

With 18 days to go until Essendon’s Round 1 clash with Hawthorn, the Don The Stat Guernsey Countdown turns to one of the club’s most famous numbers — Guernsey Number 18 . The number was first worn during the 1911 finals series by George McLeod , who was part of Essendon’s 1911 Premiership side , immediately establishing the jumper as a Premiership number. In the following decade, Paddy Shea became the first long-term wearer of 18, playing 70 games and winning a 1912 Premi

With 19 days to go until Essendon’s Round 1 clash with Hawthorn, the Don The Stat Guernsey Countdown continues with one of the club’s most historically rich numbers — Guernsey Number 19 . The number was first worn by Dick Monteith during the 1911 finals series , when Essendon first introduced jumper numbers. Monteith’s appearance would culminate in a 1911 Premiership , making Number 19 a Premiership jumper from its very first outing. In the following decade, Les White wore

With 20 days to go until Essendon’s Round 1 clash , Don The Stat continues its daily countdown through the club’s guernsey history with Guernsey Number 20 . Guernsey numbers were first worn by Essendon during the 1911 finals series , and the first Bomber to wear Number 20 was Bill Walker , who wore the jumper across 1912 and 1913 . Walker went on to become a member of Essendon’s 1912 Premiership side , giving the number an immediate place in club history. Across the decades

Essendon guernsey number 21 is a number defined by endurance, leadership, and lineage , with its fingerprints all over the club’s most successful eras. The number’s Premiership pedigree dates right back to 1911 , when Ern Hazel wore 21 in Essendon’s first VFL flag. That success continued into the 1920s with Tommy Jenkins , who played 50 games in the number and was a member of the 1923 and 1924 Premiership teams , helping entrench 21 as a big-game jumper. Following World War