Essendon fans say there is no way the Bombers should consider changing the guernsey the club has worn since it was a founding member of the VFL/AFL in 1897. The issue again came to a head after an Essendon v Melbourne match recently. There were calls from some for clubs to have an alternate strip for matches where jumper clashes may be a problem. But the recent Bomberland poll saw 3060 voters (86.4%) say the club shouldn't consider such a change. Only 481 (13.6%) felt the club should change its guernsey on such occasions. Some comments from our voters are attached.

Lance Lindley from Yokohama, Japan says: It would be absolutely horrible for the Dons to change their guernsey. It is the very symbol of Essendon and the best looking one in the league. Back in 1981 when my father and I started following Essendon on U.S. cable TV, we had no loyalties to any place so we picked a team to follow based on the guernsey and that is why we picked the DONS. Please dont change it!!!!

Jo from Horsham/Victoria says: No way!! The red and black is a trademark of the EFC. Has been for years and should be for years to come. Take that away and you lose a history full of memorable moments that are relived every time the team runs out onto the ground in thier colours.

Mick Moran from Burnie, Tasmania, Australia says: Essendon should not change the jumper as it has not changed unlike other teams. Also since the other teams that have not changed they jumpers should not have to either. The so called problem has always be part of the game so really it is not a new problem. It is part of the game like the shape of the ball causes the ball to bounce differently sometimes, should the ball be changed? No, so why change the jumpers. It is part of the skills of a player to identify their teammates.

Steve Gill from Sunshine Coast, Queensland says: With the amount of sponsorship logos on the back of footy jumpers these days there should be no need for any team to change there jumpers. Particually our beloved Bombers.

Clint from WA says: Stick with the tradition. The shorts & socks are always different from the opposition anyway.

Brett Crabtree from Adelaide says: Essendon should never change the gurnsey. It is an institution in Australia, and we should not throw out tradition like Collingwood & Carlton and many other clubs who have lost the ""mystique"" of the jumper. Ansett Cup, fine, but not in the home & away series.

Bugman from ACT says: Essendon is the most traditional club in the AFL. The red and black is synonymous with the club, changing to different colours and guernsey designs is not appropriate. If Melbourne believe that there is a colour clash - let them change!

Michael Ford from Swan Hill Vic says: I certainly would not advocate a change of jumper design unless there was an issue with the players mistaking opponents for team-mates. If that were a problem then you would expect that when a new jumper is presented to the AFL, it would be dissallowed if similar to any existing club guernsey

Cliff Davison from Epping/NSW/Australia says: As one of the founding teams in the competition and as a team that has not changed guernsey since the inception, why should we do it now?

Roger McLennan from Hobart/Tas says: I have observed that Essendon does not play as well against the two teams that have similar jumpers, ie: Melbourne and Carlton. Could this just be a co-incidence or could the similar colours cause quick-skill errors? I think a light to medium grey jumper with the same red stripe would be a good alternative jumper against these teams.

Reece Freak from Adelaide, S.A says: I think that since our club is one of the oldest and largest still going around, the AFL owes us the right to have the choice to change our guernsey.

Mark Hore from Mandurah Western Australia says: Supporting football is like going to war you have to be proud of your country ie:your colours and your team like Essendon whom have wore the same colours throughout their history you respect the team and the colours nothing will change that!!!!

James from Kalgoorlie WA says: Essendon should not have to change because they have always been the same, but some other clubs such as Melbourne should change to a lighter blue because they look almost identical to Essendon jumpers. With poor reception on the TV I can hardly tell them apart.

Wade Phillips from Macleod says: Football is all about tradition, so why should we change the uniform to team has worn for over one hundred years just to avoid a clash?

Tim Truscott from Essendon, Victoria, Australia says: Essendon along with all AFL clubs should consider adopting an away kit for games when the away sides guernsey clashes with the home teams guernsey. A good example would be Esssendon v Melbourne.

Roger Myers from Essendon says: I think that this issue should be considered by Essendon. For games against Melbourne, I think the away team should have to wear a different jumper. It would only have to be changed enough so that you can clearly tell the difference on the front and back.

Mike from Balwyn says: How come after 100 years of VFL/AFL the guernseys are suddenly causing confusion? We survived B&W telly long enough and the use of white shorts for the away team is enough contrast for anyone surely. What about leaving some traditions alone for a change...and get rid of the 3rd umpire!! They were introduced to clean up behind the play incidents and are now redundant with all the video scrutiny. What a $ saving that would be and it would cut down on umpires getting in the way of players.

John Fitzgerald from Forestville/Sydney/NSW says: I play under 18 for your sister club North Shore and I love the guernsy and if you changed yours we would change ours. But also that guernsy has a lot of history behind it and it is an Essendon trademark

Peter from Melbourne says: Essendon has had the same basic design on its guernsey for over one hundred years. Why change it now when its an icon of the Essendon Football Club. Its interesting to note that the jumper clash has not come up earlier with matches in the 60s and 70s played in atrocious conditions and jumpers very difficult to distinguish between clubs with all the mud on them. Nowdays the grounds are better maintained and do not get as muddy so the players do not tend to be that muddy.