Countdown to Round 1, 2026. Day 30: Essendon Guernsey Number 30

With 30 days to go until Essendon’s Round 1 clash with Hawthorn, Don The Stat continues its daily countdown through Essendon’s guernsey history.

Guernsey Number 30 has been worn by Essendon players across every era of the club’s VFL/AFL journey, with several long-term contributors and Premiership players shaping its story.

The earliest recorded wearer was Bill Kyme in 1912, but the jumper’s first sustained chapter came through George Shorten, who wore #30 from 1923 to 1926, playing 52 games. Shorten was a member of Essendon’s 1923 and 1924 Premiership sides, embedding early success into the number’s history.

In the post-war period, Geoff Leek became the defining figure of Guernsey 30, wearing the number from 1951 to 1962 and playing 191 games. Leek was part of Essendon’s 1962 Premiership team, and remains one of the club’s longest-serving players in the jumper.

The number again found stability with Kevin Walsh, who wore #30 from 1982 to 1991, playing 161 games and winning Premierships in 1984 and 1985.

The modern era saw Paddy Ryder wear the jumper across 170 games, before Brandon Zerk-Thatcher and then Nate Caddy continued the lineage. Caddy has worn Guernsey Number 30 since 2024 and will carry it into 2026.

Milestone players in Guernsey Number 30

• 50+ games Mark Fraser (65), George Shorten (52), Brandon Zerk-Thatcher (51)

• 150+ games Geoff Leek (191), Paddy Ryder (170), Kevin Walsh (161)

Guernsey Number 30 stands as a reminder that some of Essendon’s most important contributors have done their work quietly, but with lasting impact.

Next up: Day 29 and Jumper Number 29.