Countdown to Round 1, 2026. Day 38: Essendon Guernsey Number 38

With 38 days to go until Essendon’s Round 1 clash with Hawthorn, Don The Stat continues its daily countdown through the club’s guernsey history.

Guernsey Number 38 has been worn by 17 Essendon players, often serving as a starting point for careers that went on to leave a lasting mark on the club.

The first Bomber to wear the number was Bob Gluyas, who played nine games between 1957 and 1958, kicking 15 goals. During the 1960s and early 1970s, the jumper was worn by Graham Leydin and Eddie Lake, with Lake playing 32 games between 1969 and 1973.

From 1974 to 1977, Garry Foulds wore Number 38 across 54 games before switching to Number 10 later in his career.

The jumper then found long-term stability with Peter Bennett, who wore Number 38 across 67 games from 1978 to 1981.

In the mid-1980s, Mark Harvey wore Number 38 from 1984 to 1986, playing 60 senior games and kicking 97 goals. Harvey was part of Essendon’s 1984 and 1985 Premiership teams while wearing Number 38, before switching to Number 1, where he later won another Premiership in 1993.

The longest-serving wearer of the jumper is Sean Denham, who wore Guernsey Number 38 from 1992 to 2000, playing 142 senior games. Denham was also a member of Essendon’s 1993 Premiership side, adding another Premiership link to the number.

In more recent seasons, the number has been worn by Jay Nash, Jarrod Atkinson, Nick Kommer, Sam Draper, and Rhys Unwin, who debuted in 2025 and will continue wearing the number into 2026.

Milestone players in Guernsey Number 38

• 50+ games (3) Garry Foulds (54), Peter Bennett (67), Mark Harvey (60)

• 100+ games (1) Sean Denham (142)

Guernsey Number 38 stands as a jumper closely linked to development, longevity, and Premiership success across eras.

Next up: Day 37 and Guernsey Number 37.