Countdown to Round 1, 2026. Day 33: Essendon Guernsey Number 33

With 33 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 33 has been worn by 28 Essendon players, and its history is deeply intertwined with Premiership success across multiple eras.

The first Bomber to wear the number was Charlie Hardy, who wore #33 from 1921 to 1924, playing 30 games and winning a Premiership in 1923 while wearing the jumper.

The number re-emerged strongly in the post-war years through Noel Allanson, who wore #33 from 1947 to 1951, playing 57 games and being part of Essendon’s 1950 Premiership side.

The 1970s saw Andrew Wilson establish the jumper as an attacking force, wearing #33 across 112 games from 1971 to 1977. That legacy was taken to another level by Glenn Hawker, who wore the number from 1978 to 1988, playing 200 games and becoming a dual Premiership player in 1984 and 1985 while wearing #33.

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Blake Caracella wore Guernsey Number 33 from 1997 to 2002, winning a Premiership in 2000 while wearing the jumper.

Paul Hills also wore #33 during the 1992 season, before switching to Number 11, where he became a member of Essendon’s 1993 Premiership side, marking his second appearance in the guernsey countdown.

In more recent seasons, Jayden Laverde and Brayden Ham wore the jumper, before it was most recently worn by Alwyn Davey Jr. across 2023 and 2024. At present, Guernsey Number 33 has no confirmed wearer for 2026.

Milestone players in Guernsey Number 33

• 50+ games (2) John Towner (87 games), Noel Allanson (57 games)

• 100+ games (3) Adam McPhee (142 games), Blake Caracella (126 games), Andrew Wilson (112 games)

• 200+ games (1) Glenn Hawker (200 games)

Guernsey Number 33 stands as one of Essendon’s most decorated numbers, defined by longevity, scoring power, and Premiership success.

Next up: Day 32 and Guernsey Number 32.