Essendon will have eight new jumper number custodians in 2022, with five recruits receiving their numbers and three existing players inheriting new ones.
Following the departures of club greats David Zaharakis and Cale Hooker, forwards Will Snelling and Kaine Baldwin have switched to No.11 and former captain Mark Thompson's famous No.26 respectively.
Mid-season draftee Sam Durham has inherited '80s hero Bill Duckworth's old No.22 as he looks to build on an impressive debut season.
Ben Hobbs, Essendon's first pick in last month's NAB AFL Draft, will don No.8 - a number that has featured in the Bombers' last five Grand Final wins through Darren Bewick (2000, 1993), Neil Clarke (1985, 1984) and Charlie Payne (1965).
Alastair Lord will wear dual premiership great Alec Epis' old No.28, while Garrett McDonagh (36) and Patrick Voss (39) round out the numbers for the draftees.
Former Crow Jake Kelly, who joined Essendon as an unrestricted free agent in October, has inherited the No.29 worn by former excitement machines Gary Moorcroft and Alwyn Davey.
The Bombers will wear a special Under Armour home guernsey in 2022 to commemorate their 150-year anniversary, with fans able to pre-order theirs online via the Bomber Shop.
For 150 years, it has crossed our hearts and united us all.
— Essendon FC (@essendonfc) November 23, 2021
Pre-order your 2022 @UnderArmour home guernsey » https://t.co/NXvDZ5YF3f pic.twitter.com/ouNrsAEicZ
Find out more about the history of each number below.
No.8 – Ben Hobbs
Names on locker (games played in guernsey number): Darren Bewick (238), Jason Winderlich, Elton Plummer (129)
Premierships won in guernsey number: Billy Griffith (1911), Jimmy Sullivan (1924), Elton Plummer (1942), Bert Harper (1950), Charlie Payne (1965), Neil Clarke (1984, 1985), Darren Bewick (1993, 2000)
No.11 – Will Snelling
Names on locker (games played in guernsey number): David Zaharakis (226), John Birt (193), Damien Peverill (135), Greg Anderson (103)
Premierships won in guernsey number: Percy Ogden (1911), Jack Kirby (1912), Charlie Farrell (1924), Ron McEwin (1949, 1950), John Birt (1962, 1965), Paul Hills (1993), Damien Hardwick (2000)
No.22 – Sam Durham
Names on locker (games played in guernsey number): John Williams (161), Gordon Lane (131), Bill Duckworth (126)
Premierships won in guernsey number: Gordon Lane (1942, 1946, 1949), Bill Snell (1950), Bill Duckworth (1984, 1985), John Barnes (2000)
No.26 – Kaine Baldwin
Names on locker (games played in guernsey number): Cale Hooker (219), Mark Thompson (202), Ted Freyer (124), Chris Heffernan (123)
Premierships won in guernsey number: Bob Syme (1949), Mark Thompson (1984, 1985, 1993), Chris Heffernan (2000)
No.28 – Alastair Lord
Names on locker (games played in guernsey number): Alec Epis (180), Paddy Walsh (115), Jack Garden (111)
Premierships won in guernsey number: Sid Silk (1942), Alec Epis (1962, 1965), Paul Weston (1984, 1985)
No.29 – Jake Kelly
Names on locker (games played in guernsey number): David Grenvold (112), Tom Reynolds (109), Alwyn Davey (100)
Premierships won in guernsey number: Billy Griffith (1912), Tom Reynolds (1942), David Grenvold (1993), Gary Moorcroft (2000)
No.36 – Garrett McDonagh
Names on locker (games played in guernsey number): None
Premierships won in guernsey number: Alan Thaw (1949), Paul Doran (1962), Peter Bradbury (1984)
No.39 – Patrick Voss
Names on locker (games played in guernsey number): Heath Hocking (126)
Premierships won in guernsey number: None
