Essendon's hopes of advancing past this weekend's first semi-final took a savage blow tonight with Dustin Fletcher's appeal against a two-match suspension dismissed. Unless Essendon makes the Grand Final, Fletcher's season is now over. Fletcher was suspended for two matches after being found guilty of striking Fremantle's Roger Hayden last weekend. The Bomber's appeal against the suspension was heard tonight but the panel found no reason to overturn the decision.

Fletcher will be a bitterly disappointed man tonight. He missed this corresponding match last season after he was found guilty of a tripping charge against West Coast in the Elimination Final. He knows he is an important cog in the Essendon line-up and will feel he has let his teammates down.

Essendon's defensive plan for this weekend's match against the minor premiers have now been thrown into disarray. Fletcher would almost certainly have gone to Port Adelaide star centre half forward Warren Tredrea. The Essendon match committee will now need to re-assess their options.

The loss of Fletcher could force Scott Lucas back to defence, robbing the forward line of an important avenue to goal. Alternatively the Bombers could go with Sean Wellman, possibly Mark Bolton or Danny Jacobs with Dean Solomon the wildcard. Aaron Henneman has also been thrown up as a possibility.