The decorated career of the AFL’s oldest player is set to continue after Dustin Fletcher agreed to a new one-year contract.
The beloved defender will play on in 2015 for a record-breaking 23rd season after agreeing to terms with Essendon this morning.
Fletcher is now set to join the prestigious 400-game club alongside Michael Tuck and Kevin Bartlett. The 39-year-old currently sits on 393 career games.
“I did have to sit down and really think about this decision but I know that my body is feeling good and I feel that I still have something to contribute to the team,” Fletcher said.
“I’m not particularly motivated by records, but I am motivated by my teammates and this great club.
“I think walking in to the coaches office and knowing that they wanted me to go around again really had a positive impact on me.
“The game has changed in many ways since I first started, but my hunger for success hasn’t so I’m keen to go around again and give it another crack. I’m excited to be back in and ready to go again for the pre-season.”
Senior coach James Hird said the evergreen defender’s experience was invaluable to his teammates.
“We made our desires clear to Fletch that we wanted him to play on, but ultimately, the decision was left up to him,” Hird said.
“It is just great for football that he is going around again. He adds so much experience to our side and is a terrific mentor for our younger players.”
Fletcher made his debut against Carlton in 1993 after being drafted under the father-son rule from Essendon Grammar. He became a premiership player in his first year at the club in 1993 and was named Essendon’s best and fairest player in the premiership year of 2000. This year, he broke Essendon’s all time games record, surpassing Simon Madden’s record in Round 1 against North Melbourne.
In his time at the club, Fletcher has been coached by Kevin Sheedy, Matthew Knights, and former teammates James Hird and Mark Thompson. He has had 161 teammates and played at 14 different venues across Australia including Western Oval, Football Park, Princes Park, Stadium Australia and the hallowed turf of the MCG. Ken and Dustin Fletcher hold the record for most league games by a father/son combination (657 and counting).
Dustin Fletcher’s Key Achievements
Premierships: 1993, 2000
All-Australian: 2000, 2007
EFC Best and Fairest: 2000 (Second Place: 2007, 2009; Third Place: 2006, 2012)
Pre-Season Premierships: 1994, 2000
Best First Year Player: 1993
Best Club Man/Team Man: 1999, 2009, 2011
Most Courageous: 2005
International Rules Series: 2005, 2006, 2010, and 2014
Essendon Life Member: 2002
