Is red a light colour or a dark colour? 

It’s a strange question but the answer has had a significant bearing on Essendon’s Heritage Guernsey. 

In 2009, the AFL mandated that the Bombers create a clash jumper to ensure when teams took the field one side was wearing a predominantly light uniform while the other wore a predominantly dark uniform. 

The AFL’s interpretation of both red and black as dark colours created a conundrum for the Dons who had to find a third colour. 

And so the grey jumper was born.

“With much reluctance we created an alternative jumper that used the grey from the Bomber logo and turned it into a heritage Guernsey,” Essendon CEO Xavier Campbell said.

“Although it was entirely new, we added elements to acknowledge our proud history and used it as an opportunity to pay tribute to the Legends that have represented this Club.”

The AFL has now changed its interpretation of red, which is now deemed a light colour.

“Over the last 18 months we’ve been working hard with the AFL to get the Guernsey back to our traditional colours – red and black,” Campbell said.

“So this year’s Heritage Guernsey has done that.

“It’s in line with our constitution.  It retains the red sash with the black outline and fits the AFL criteria with ‘red’ now deemed a light colour.”

The jumper features every Essendon premiership player and also pays tribute to three-time premiership player and four-time best and fairest winner Tim Watson.

“Tim is a Legend of our Club,” Campbell said.

“He’s maintained a close association since his retirement.  It’s fitting he be acknowledged in this way. 

“It was important we got feedback from the fans and the fact they’ve voted him in speaks volumes for the high regard Tim Watson is held in by the Essendon family.”