Countdown to Round 1, 2026. Day 36: Essendon Guernsey Number 36

Don TheStat
5 hours ago
2 min read

With 36 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 36 has been worn by 31 Essendon players, with a history that spans Premiership success, long-serving contributors, and one of the most remarkable family moments in VFL/AFL history.

The first Bomber to wear the number was Percy Watson, who played one senior game in 1920. The jumper re-emerged more prominently in the late 1940s through Alan Thaw, who wore Number 36 across 24 games between 1949, 1950 and 1952, including Essendon’s 1949 Premiership.

From 1959 to 1965, Paul Doran wore Guernsey Number 36 across 82 senior games and was a member of Essendon’s 1962 Premiership side, giving the number its second Premiership connection.

The third Premiership appearance for Number 36 came in 1984, when Peter Bradbury wore the jumper as part of Essendon’s 1984 Premiership side.

One of the most famous chapters associated with Guernsey Number 36 belongs to Neale Daniher. Neale began his Essendon career wearing Number 6, but after injury returned to the senior side wearing Number 36. That return included the historic 1990 match against St Kilda, when Neale played alongside his brothers Terry (#5), Anthony (#6) and Chris (#7) — the only instance of four brothers playing together in a VFL/AFL match.

In the mid-1990s, Scott Cummings wore Number 36 from 1994 to 1996, kicking 83 goals in 40 games, before leaving Essendon to continue his career at another club.

Most recently, Angus Clarke wore Guernsey Number 36 during the 2025 season and will continue wearing the number into 2026.

Guernsey Number 36 stands as a jumper closely linked to Premiership success, resilience, and one of the most unique moments in the game’s history.