Dustin Fletcher
Encyclopedia
Dustin Fletcher is an Australian rules football
er with the Essendon Football Club
. He is renowned as one of the finest defenders in the AFL
, and has played at full-back for his team for many years. He is the son of former Bombers captain Ken Fletcher
. He is the oldest player currently playing AFL as well as holding the unique record of being the most watched AFL footballer of all time, with a cumulative attendance of 16,832,416 spectators at matches in which Fletcher played between 1993 to 2011.
) in his first AFL season
. He is the only member of that side still playing AFL football. He also played in Essendon's 2000 premiership win
and received the club's "Best and Fairest" award (the Crichton Medal). He was selected as an all-Australian player in both 2000 and 2007
.
Fletcher was the goalkeeper for Australia
in the International Rules series in 2005, 2006 (as co-captain), and 2010.
In Round 13 of 2008
, Dustin and his father Ken claimed the record of most VFL/AFL games played by a father-son combination, with 552 games between them. Fletcher played his 300th game in Round 5, 2009
. He is playing his 19th season in 2011
, and many regard him to be one of the top defenders in AFL/VFL history.
In round 9, 2010, Fletcher played in his 322nd AFL game against the Richmond Football Club, overtaking a long-standing record for the second most games for the Essendon team, held by Dick Reynolds
; however, at that stage, he still needed 57 games to overtake the outright record holder, Simon Madden
.
He is currently the oldest player in the AFL, at the age of 36, and is also the only player remaining from Essendon's 1993 and 2000 premiership sides still playing today. Fletcher will play his 19th AFL season in 2011 after signing a one year contract.
was often used as a set-play clearing strategy by coach Kevin Sheedy. In a game in 2007, Fletcher kicked a 75 metre torpedo punt
goal from ten metres behind the centre square. Again, in round 20 2009, Fletcher kicked another enormous goal, again a torpedo, in the game that ended the St Kilda Saints 19 match winning streak. According to The Sunday Age, it was the fifth longest kick in the history of the VFL/AFL.
Dustin went to Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School
, as did Rick Olarenshaw
, Trent Cotchin
, Robert Hicks
, and Scott West
.
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 with the Essendon Football Club
Essendon Football Club
The Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
. He is renowned as one of the finest defenders in 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...
, and has played at full-back for his team for many years. He is the son of former Bombers captain Ken Fletcher
Ken Fletcher (footballer)
Ken Fletcher is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the Essendon Bombers. He is the father of Dustin Fletcher who was drafted into the club through the father son rule....
. He is the oldest player currently playing AFL as well as holding the unique record of being the most watched AFL footballer of all time, with a cumulative attendance of 16,832,416 spectators at matches in which Fletcher played between 1993 to 2011.
Playing career
Fletcher was a member of the "Baby Bombers" (Essendon's 1993 premiership team1993 AFL Grand Final
The 1993 AFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the Essendon Football Club and Carlton Football Club, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on 25 September 1993. It was the 97th annual Grand Final of the Victorian Football League/Australian Football...
) in his first AFL season
1993 AFL season
-Ladder:All teams played 20 games during the home and away season, for a total of 165. Each team also had two byes. An additional 7 games were played during the finals series.-Awards:*The Brownlow Medal was awarded to Gavin Wanganeen of ....
. He is the only member of that side still playing AFL football. He also played in Essendon's 2000 premiership win
2000 AFL Grand Final
The 2000 AFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the Essendon Football Club and the Melbourne Football Club, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on 2 September 2000. It was the 104th annual Grand Final of the Victorian Football League/Australian...
and received the club's "Best and Fairest" award (the Crichton Medal). He was selected as an all-Australian player in both 2000 and 2007
2007 AFL season
The 2007 AFL Season was the 111th season of the Australian Football League, the highest-level professional Australian rules football league in Australia...
.
Fletcher was the goalkeeper for Australia
Australia
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 series in 2005, 2006 (as co-captain), and 2010.
In Round 13 of 2008
2008 AFL season
-Round 1 :-Round 2:-Round 3 :-Round 4:-Round 5:-Round 6 :-Round 7:-AFL Hall of Fame Tribute Match:-Round 8:...
, Dustin and his father Ken claimed the record of most VFL/AFL games played by a father-son combination, with 552 games between them. Fletcher played his 300th game in Round 5, 2009
2009 AFL season
-Round 1 :-Round 2:-Round 3 :-Round 4:-Round 5 :-Round 6:-Round 7:-Round 8:-Round 9 :-Round 10:...
. He is playing his 19th season in 2011
2011 AFL season
The 2011 Australian Football League season was the 115th season of the Australian rules football competition. It was the debut year for , and was scheduled to be the only season to be played with 17 teams...
, and many regard him to be one of the top defenders in AFL/VFL history.
In round 9, 2010, Fletcher played in his 322nd AFL game against the Richmond Football Club, overtaking a long-standing record for the second most games for the Essendon team, held by Dick Reynolds
Dick Reynolds
Richard Sylvannus 'Dick' Reynolds was an Australian rules footballer and coach who represented Essendon and Victoria with great distinction....
; however, at that stage, he still needed 57 games to overtake the outright record holder, Simon Madden
Simon Madden
Simon Madden was an Australian rules footballer for the Essendon Football Club from 1974 until 1992. He was also president of the AFL Players Association from 1985 until 1989....
.
He is currently the oldest player in the AFL, at the age of 36, and is also the only player remaining from Essendon's 1993 and 2000 premiership sides still playing today. Fletcher will play his 19th AFL season in 2011 after signing a one year contract.
Playing style
Fletcher's execution of the torpedo puntTorpedo punt
The torpedo punt, similar to a punt in American Football, is a kicking technique implemented in Rugby League, Rugby Union and Australian rules football to enhance the distance the ball is kicked....
was often used as a set-play clearing strategy by coach Kevin Sheedy. In a game in 2007, Fletcher kicked a 75 metre torpedo punt
Torpedo punt
The torpedo punt, similar to a punt in American Football, is a kicking technique implemented in Rugby League, Rugby Union and Australian rules football to enhance the distance the ball is kicked....
goal from ten metres behind the centre square. Again, in round 20 2009, Fletcher kicked another enormous goal, again a torpedo, in the game that ended the St Kilda Saints 19 match winning streak. According to The Sunday Age, it was the fifth longest kick in the history of the VFL/AFL.
Personal life
Fletcher is married to Suzie Fletcher and they have two sons – Mason and Max.Dustin went to Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School
Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School
Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School is an independent, Uniting Church, co-educational school, with campuses located in Essendon, Moonee Ponds and Keilor East in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia....
, as did Rick Olarenshaw
Rick Olarenshaw
Rick Olarenshaw is a former Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League.He was formerly a boundary rider for Network Seven until being replaced by Matthew Richardson.-Essendon:...
, Trent Cotchin
Trent Cotchin
Trent William Cotchin is an Australian rules football player who was recruited at pick 2 in the 2007 AFL Draft by the Richmond Football Club. He was recruited from the Northern Knights under 18 football club, which made the preliminary finals of the 2007 TAC Cup competition...
, Robert Hicks
Robert Hicks (Australian footballer)
Robert Hicks is a rookie listed Australian rules footballer who plays for the Richmond Football Club in the Australian Football League ....
, and Scott West
Scott West
Scott West is a former Australian rules football player who played for the Western Bulldogs in the Australian Football League...
.