Fletcher has held down the position of fullback for the past 10 years and will play his 200th game on Saturday against Carlton. Fletcher would have stopped as many goals as Matthew Lloyd has kicked, but there isn't an award given to the best defender in the competition like the ""John Coleman"" medal recognises the best goal kicker. Fletcher has played on some of the best full-forwards of the modern era including - Gary Ablett, Stephen Kernahan, Jason Dunstall and Tony Lockett.
""You don't think about these things (milestones) too much but I suppose 200 at the one club is a good thing. Once you start stringing a few games together it comes up. I have been playing for 10 years, so to average 20 games a season is a good effort,"" Fletcher said. ""I suppose now that I have made 200, you look to 250. My old man played 264 so I think that is in the back of my mind. Basically I just want to string some games together and play as many as I can.""
Fletcher debuted as a 17-year-old schoolboy in 1993 and juggled school footy, studies and an AFL career. And what a debut season he enjoyed - a premiership in his first year of senior football. ""I feel I was a bit lucky to slot into the full-back spot in my first year. I had some great players around me - Gavin Wanganeen, Mark Harvey, David Grenvold and Bomber Thompson - so I think I was lucky in that respect. 2000 was a big year, but it made me realise from 1993 to 2000 you don't just turn up and win a grand final. 2000 did mean a lot to me and I still hope there is something left in the next three to four years,"" Fletcher said.
Fletcher played the majority of his junior football in the forwardline but has been a permanent fixture in the backline since coming to Essendon. The 28-year-old said he is happy to continue playing in defence, but at some stage he wouldn't mind the opportunity to move forward. ""Maybe when I am struggling a bit down back he (Sheedy) might put me up in the forwardline. I think at the moment we have too many quality players up there - Matthew Lloyd, James Hird, Scott Lucas and Damian Cupido - so it is a tough forwardline to slot into it.""
Fletcher recalls the advice former Essendon fullback Anthony Daniher gave to him when he first arrived at the club. ""Anthony said to me, which I can relate to now - is that you make two to three mistakes and you get six goals kicked on you. That has happened in my career a few times. Overall I have been really happy playing down there,"" Fletcher said.
Fletcher's best season at the club was probably 2000. Not only was he one of the key member's of the premiership side, he also won the club best and fairest award in the same season and was awarded All Australian selection. One of Fletcher's most recent achievements came last season when he was ranked 30th in the Champions of Essendon. Bomber coach Kevin Sheedy has coached Fletcher for his entire career and he is pleased to see him reach the 200 game milestone.
""It is just tremendous that when you put him in at 17-years of age he gets to play in a premiership. It is great to see him as 200 game player - it is a fantastic achievement. I am lucky to be around to see him progress from 1993. It is not an easy position to play fullback,"" Sheedy said. ""He is easily the best fullback we have had since 1957. For him to win a best and fairest in a team that only lost one game for the season, which meant the ball is down the other end the most - speaks for itself. Generally backmen don't win best and fairest awards in winning, successful sides.""
Fletcher isn’t getting too carried away with the 200 game milestone, preferring to focus on the job of defeating Carlton. Essendon needs to keep winning to keep its finals aspirations alive and Fletcher knows all too well how important the game is.""Carlton knocked us off earlier on in the season, so it is a big game. We are looking forward to the match and trying to get another win on the board. Carlton are a team that have knocked us out a few times, so we are hoping for a good contest.""
