Countdown to Round 1, 2026 – Day 21: Essendon Guernsey Number 21

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 II, Cec Ruddell became the number’s anchor. Across 122 games, Ruddell wore 21 in both the 1942 and 1946 Premiership sides, giving the jumper genuine continuity through one of the club’s golden periods.

But no player has shaped the legacy of number 21 more than Ken Fletcher. From 1967 to 1980, Fletcher played 264 games in the number, captained Essendon between 1977 and 1979, and today ranks second all-time in VFL/AFL history for games played in guernsey 21. His influence extended beyond his own career, with son Dustin Fletcher later forging his own legend in red and black.

In the modern era, Dean Wallis provided grit and reliability, playing 127 games in 21 and contributing to both the 1993 and 2000 Premiership teams — a rare link between two dominant Essendon generations.

The most recent custodian of the number is Dyson Heppell, who wore 21 from 2011 to 2024, playing 253 games and captaining the club from 2017 to 2022. Heppell now sits fifth all-time in VFL/AFL history for games played in the number, cementing his place in the jumper’s story.

Milestone Players in Guernsey #21

• 50+ games (50–99) (3) Tommy Jenkins (50), Ted Rippon (69), Jack Knowles (78)

• 100+ games (100–149) (2) Cec Ruddell (122), Dean Wallis (127)

• 250+ games (250–299) (2) Ken Fletcher (264), Dyson Heppell (253)

Guernsey 21 isn’t just a number — it’s a through-line of leadership and longevity stretching from Essendon’s first Premiership to the modern era.

Next up: Day 20 and Jumper Number 20.