Are there any West Coast Eagles fans who haven’t been dazzled by a player wearing me, the number four jumper? I highly doubt it.

Some of the best Eagles of all time have worn me, right from the very first game in round one 1987, through until this year, and now a new player will get the honour of wearing me on their back in 2014.

Over the years I have experienced the thrilling highs of premiership glory, and the heartbreak of big losses. I’ve taken part in 413 games for 242 wins, four draws and 167 losses, playing in five grand finals, winning three.

The great Ross Glendinning was the first Eagle to don the number four. Glendinning, the 1983 Brownlow Medallist, had a long career at VFL side North Melbourne, but returned to his home state to captain the Eagles in their first season. A powerful unit, ‘Rosco’ was capable of playing at either end of the ground in a key position, but mainly played as a centre half-forward in his time with the Eagles. What a way to kick things off for me.

After Glendinning’s retirement in 1988, a left footed full forward was handed the number four, his name was Peter Sumich. For the next nine years, Sumich would wreak havoc inside fifty, with his unconventional but effective kicking style landing over 500 majors in his time at the club.

He’s a two-time premiership player, and was a key player in both, booting eight goals in the two wins. Whoever was next in the line of number four’s, they would be up against it trying to reach the benchmarks set by Glendinning and Sumich.

The next man to wear number four was David Antonowicz, who played three games for the club in 2000.


Enter Daniel Kerr. The tough uncompromising Kerr was given the number four in 2002 and has held it ever since, only retiring last month. Kerr will no doubt go down as one of the greatest Eagles of all time, after a sensational career which spanned 13 seasons, including a premiership in 2006.

He was twice runner-up in the Brownlow Medal. Between 2005 and 2007 no player polled more votes with Kerr, as he notched up 63 votes (21 per season), not bad going! Kerr ended his career at the end of 2013 with 220 games, and was an All-Australian representative in 2007.

After Kerry retired at the end of 2013, a young man from Kalgoorlie called Dominic took over. He has made a terrific start to his career and we've already played in a grand final together. As disappointing as that day was, I know he and the team will take a lot from it for the future. 

Jumper no.4 timeline
1987 Ross Glendinning 21 games (won 10, lost 11)
1988 Ross Glendinning 19 games (won 12, lost 7)
1989 Peter Sumich 19 games (won 6, lost 13)
1990 Peter Sumich 23 games (won 14, drew 1, lost 8)
1991 Peter Sumich 25 games (won 20, lost 5)
1992 Peter Sumich 19 games (won 16, drew 1, lost 2)
1993 Peter Sumich 21 games (won 13, lost 8)
1994 Peter Sumich 18 games (won 13, lost 5)
1995 Peter Sumich 5 games (won 4, lost 1)
1996 Peter Sumich 7 games (won 5, lost 2)
1997 Peter Sumich 13 games (won 9, lost 4)
2000 David Antonowicz 3 games (lost 3)
2002 Daniel Kerr 23 games (won 11, lost 12)
2003 Daniel Kerr 21 games (won 10, drew 2, lost 9)
2004 Daniel Kerr 21 games (won 11, lost 10)
2005 Daniel Kerr 22 games (won 16, lost 6)
2006 Daniel Kerr 21 games (won 17, lost 4)
2007 Daniel Kerr 17 games (won 12, lost 5)
2008 Daniel Kerr 11 games (won 1, lost 10)
2009 Daniel Kerr 11 games (won 4, lost 7)
2010 Daniel Kerr 4 games (won 1, lost 3)
2011 Daniel Kerr 16 games (won 16, lost 5)
2012 Daniel Kerr 24 games (won 16, lost 8)
2013 Daniel Kerr 10 games (won 5, lost 5)
2014 Dom Sheed 10 games (won 5, lost 5)
2015 Dom Sheed 23 games (won 16, drew 1, lost 6)
2016 Dom Sheed 6 games (won 4, lost 2)

NB The history of jumper no.4 includes only players who have represented the club at senior level during qualifying rounds and finals

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