Day 11: Essendon Guernsey Number 11

Don TheStat
22 hours ago
2 min read

With 11 days remaining until Essendon’s 2026 campaign begins, the Don The Stat Guernsey Countdown continues with Number 11.

Guernsey 11 was first worn by Percy Ogden during the 1911 finals series, the season Essendon introduced jumper numbers. Ogden was part of the club’s 1911 Premiership team, ensuring the number’s history began with silverware.

One of the first great custodians was Jack Kirby, who played 67 games across two stints and became the first recorded player to kick a goal with his first kick in VFL/AFL football. His legacy now lives on through the Jack Kirby Medal, awarded annually by Don The Stat supporters.

The jumper gained further Premiership pedigree through Charlie Farrell, a member of the 1924 flag, before being carried into a golden era by Ron McEwin, who won back-to-back Premierships in 1949 and 1950.

The defining figure in Guernsey 11 remains John Birt, who played 193 games from 1957 to 1967, won two Premierships, three Crichton Medals, and later coached the club in 1971.

In modern times, the number has been worn by Damien Peverill, Damien Hardwick during the 2000 Premiership season, and most memorably by David Zaharakis, whose Anzac Day match-winner remains one of Essendon’s most iconic moments.