Essendon Football Club is pleased to release a special edition Heritage Guernsey to be worn by the Bombers in the side’s clash with St Kilda in round 21.
The guernsey honours club legend Ken Fraser and is a nod to one of Essendon’s greatest eras, replicating the jumper worn by the Bombers in the 1965 Premiership.
Fraser – who was an inspiring captain of the successful side – is honoured with his signature on the famous red sash as well as stats and a photo on the inner collar of the guernsey.
Current skipper Dyson Heppell said he was excited to see Fraser at the club and looking forward to helping celebrate Fraser’s career.
“It’s great to recognise Ken who is our oldest living captain, so it should be a ripper,” Heppell said.
“It’s great to have Ken down. We’ve got such a proud history and tradition throughout this club and to be able to recognise some of those past players is fantastic.”
Heppell said it was great to be able to follow in the footsteps of Fraser as an Essendon captain, and encouraged all fans to be at the game next Friday.
“I obviously didn’t see Ken play, but watching some of the old vision and even just talking to him now – just the character of the bloke – you can imagine he would have been a fantastic leader.
“It should be another cracker. I guess all of our games leading in now will be huge, but if we could get as much support down there as we can against the Saints it would be super.”
Fraser is listed at number seven in the Champions of Essendon and is a club Hall of Fame Legend after a brilliant career saw Fraser kick 156 goals from 198 games, win two flags, two best and fairests and two runner-up finishes in the Brownlow medal.
The humble champion said he felt privileged to be recognised by the club.
“It’s a huge honour and one that I didn’t expect, so I’m delighted to be remembered or thought of to be on the heritage guernsey,” Fraser said.
The centre-half forward grew up in Essendon as a passionate fan of the club, and said he was thrilled to be able to play his part for the club.
“With Hutchison, Reynolds, Coleman and then in Grand Finals year after year, you just became a passionate Essendon supporter,” he said.
“So to be able to play with Essendon and Don the Sash was just a dream come true.”
You can also Don the Sash with your own Heritage Guernsey HERE.
