Chad Fletcher
Encyclopedia
Chad Fletcher is an Australian rules football
er who played for the West Coast Eagles
in the Australian Football League
(AFL).
with Subiaco
, and was elevated from the West Coast rookie list
in 1998. He made his AFL debut in 1999, but did not make his mark on the league until 2002.
in the International Rules
series against Ireland
, and in 2004 he was named to the interchange bench of his first All Australian Team.
Fletcher was one of the most prolific ballwinners in the AFL, and played in the West Coast midfield with Daniel Kerr
.
Chad Fletcher was sometimes forgotten in West Coast's incredible midfield but did show he was very skillful.
Fletcher is also remembered for running into a fence while practicing a training drill blindfolded in 2005, an initiative by coach John Worsfold
. He was not injured.
handball from Chris Judd
(which led to a goal for Sydney player Brett Kirk
), and a set shot
miss from 20 metres out against Fremantle.
Having said this, Fletcher's overall season was not too bad and he fully redeemed himself in his finest game of the year during the 2006 Grand Final against Sydney. Supporters were thrilled to see him back to his great self as had been seen in previous years. He played a major part in the Eagles one point Premiership victory over the Swans.
However, Chad would still be considered a key midfielder for West Coast in the 2008 season. With ex-team mates Ben Cousins
and Chris Judd
gone, Fletcher would have to stand up and do the best he could, which will be sure to help the West Coast Eagles
remain a strong force within the AFL
.
.
Fletcher has now begun training with WAAFL side Hamersley Carine.
, Fletcher had a brush with death after reportedly choking on his own vomit. Fletcher was rushed to hospital and had to be revived after he stopped breathing. His case was so serious he spent four days in a U.S. hospital and flew straight back to Perth after checking out.
joined Chad as a model for Live in late 2007. In 2008, Fletcher released his own fashion label, named Holy Roller. Chad described his fashion career as "a good way to get away from football".
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er who played for the West Coast Eagles
West Coast Eagles
The West Coast Eagles are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League. The club is based in Perth, Western Australia. The club was founded in 1986 and played its first games in the 1987 season. Its current home ground is Subiaco Oval...
in the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
(AFL).
Early career
Fletcher began his professional football career in the West Australian Football LeagueWest Australian Football League
The West Australian Football League is an Australian rules football league based in Perth, Western Australia. The WAFL is the second-most popular in the state, behind the nation-wide Australian Football League...
with Subiaco
Subiaco Football Club
The Subiaco Football Club, nicknamed the Lions, is an Australian rules football club in the West Australian Football League . It was founded in 1896, and admitted to the WAFL in 1901, along with North Fremantle...
, and was elevated from the West Coast rookie list
Rookie list
The Rookie List is a means for Australian Football League clubs to maintain additional players outside of the 38-man primary or senior list. Rookie listed players are not eligibile to play in AFL home and away or finals matches unless they are elevated to the senior list, either to replace a...
in 1998. He made his AFL debut in 1999, but did not make his mark on the league until 2002.
Career rise
Chad Fletcher was 4th in the West Coast Best & Fairest voting in 2002 before he improved to 3rd in 2003 and 2nd in 2004. In 2003, Fletcher was selected to play for AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in the International Rules
International rules football
International rules football is a team sport consisting of a hybrid of football codes, which was developed to facilitate international representative matches between Australian rules football players and Gaelic football players....
series against Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, and in 2004 he was named to the interchange bench of his first All Australian Team.
Fletcher was one of the most prolific ballwinners in the AFL, and played in the West Coast midfield with Daniel Kerr
Daniel Kerr
Daniel Matthew Kerr is an Australian rules footballer.Kerr was recruited from East Fremantle Football Club and made his AFL debut in 2001 with the West Coast Eagles. He is a hard-running midfielder who is a vital part of the midfield at the Eagles.-Background:Kerr is of Anglo-Indian descent...
.
Chad Fletcher was sometimes forgotten in West Coast's incredible midfield but did show he was very skillful.
Fletcher is also remembered for running into a fence while practicing a training drill blindfolded in 2005, an initiative by coach John Worsfold
John Worsfold
John Worsfold is a former Australian rules footballer who represented in the West Australian Football League and the West Coast Eagles in the Victorian Football League/Australian Football League . He also represented Western Australia in State of Origin matches...
. He was not injured.
2006 Season
Fletcher was also known as a "prolific" ballwinner who could accumulate many possessions in a game. However 2006 saw him considered as one of the least accurate kicks in the league, costing the Eagles many turnovers. He was ranked 1st in clangers per game at the Eagles in 2006. Turnovers that have cost Fletcher include his Round 2 pass to opposition player Graeme Johncock, fumbling a one-twoPush and run
Push-and-run, also known as a one-two, a wall pass or a give-and-go, is a tactic often used in association football. It was devised and developed by Arthur Rowe, who was the manager of English football club Tottenham Hotspur from 1949....
handball from Chris Judd
Chris Judd
Christopher Dylan "Chris" Judd is a professional Australian rules footballer and current captain of the Carlton Football Club in the Australian Football League ....
(which led to a goal for Sydney player Brett Kirk
Brett Kirk
Brett Kirk is a former Australian rules football player of the Sydney Swans, and is known colloquially as "Kirky", "Captain Kirk", during the 2005 AFL Finals Series, "Captain Blood" and by teammates as "Hippy". Kirk is a hard working and onfield leader who has played in a premiership with the...
), and a set shot
Set shot (Australian rules football)
A Set shot in the Australian Football League is a kick for goal after the umpire has blown "time off," in which the player can 'set' himself, rather than have to quickly react during the play. A set shot occurs when a player has been awarded a free kick, or has taken a mark within kicking range...
miss from 20 metres out against Fremantle.
Having said this, Fletcher's overall season was not too bad and he fully redeemed himself in his finest game of the year during the 2006 Grand Final against Sydney. Supporters were thrilled to see him back to his great self as had been seen in previous years. He played a major part in the Eagles one point Premiership victory over the Swans.
2007 season
2007 was an average season for Fletcher. Although he was not considered a bad player, his impact on the game was not huge. This is most likely due to his preseason injury which forced him out of play for the NAB Cup and the first several rounds of the premiership season. An off-field incident during post-season celebrations in Las Vegas involving Fletcher also haunted him later in the season.However, Chad would still be considered a key midfielder for West Coast in the 2008 season. With ex-team mates Ben Cousins
Ben Cousins
Benjamin Luke "Ben" Cousins is a former Australian rules footballer, best known for his 270-game career with and in the Australian Football League ....
and Chris Judd
Chris Judd
Christopher Dylan "Chris" Judd is a professional Australian rules footballer and current captain of the Carlton Football Club in the Australian Football League ....
gone, Fletcher would have to stand up and do the best he could, which will be sure to help the West Coast Eagles
West Coast Eagles
The West Coast Eagles are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League. The club is based in Perth, Western Australia. The club was founded in 1986 and played its first games in the 1987 season. Its current home ground is Subiaco Oval...
remain a strong force within the AFL
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
.
Retirement from AFL
Fletcher was told that he was not needed in 2010 and beyond, playing his last AFL game on Round 22, 2009 against RichmondRichmond Football Club
The Richmond Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the Australian Football League. Richmond shares healthy rivalries with Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon. After winning five premierships between 1967 and 1980, the club hit the depths in 1990,...
.
Fletcher has now begun training with WAAFL side Hamersley Carine.
After AFL
Fletcher spent the 2010 season playing for the Balmain Dockers in the Sydney Football League, but retired after the Dockers did not make finals.Close Call
During West Coast's 2006 end of year holiday in Las VegasLas Vegas metropolitan area
The Las Vegas Valley is the heart of the Las Vegas-Paradise, NV MSA also known as the Las Vegas–Paradise–Henderson MSA which includes all of Clark County, Nevada, and is a metropolitan area in the southern part of the U.S. state of Nevada. The Valley is defined by the Las Vegas Valley landform, a ...
, Fletcher had a brush with death after reportedly choking on his own vomit. Fletcher was rushed to hospital and had to be revived after he stopped breathing. His case was so serious he spent four days in a U.S. hospital and flew straight back to Perth after checking out.
Fashion
Fletcher has been the front model for the men's clothing range at Live Clothing (a W.A. owned and operated clothing store). Team mate Mark NicoskiMark Nicoski
Mark Nicoski is an Australian rules footballer currently playing for the West Coast Eagles in the Australian Football League.-Early career:...
joined Chad as a model for Live in late 2007. In 2008, Fletcher released his own fashion label, named Holy Roller. Chad described his fashion career as "a good way to get away from football".