This weekend, Dustin Fletcher becomes just the fifth Essendon player to play 300 games when the Bombers take on the Brisbane Lions on Saturday night. It’s an achievement which speaks volumes for the defender’s resilience and skill.
The man affectionately known as Inspector Gadget has built an impressive CV during his career, which began in 1993.
He is a two-time premiership player, All Australian, and best-and-fairest winner.
He has followed in the footsteps of his father, Ken, with whom he shares the record of AFL/VFL matches played by a father-son combination.
And, given the form Fletcher has shown this year, he can play on past this season.
Fletcher is the only surviving member of the Bombers’ 1993 premiership team. Back then he was an 18-year-old, in Year 12 and, if his slight frame was any indication, the kid was going to have a tough time in the big league.
But, Fletcher stands comfortably alongside the great defenders of the modern era.
Current Essendon captain Matthew Lloyd rates him the equal of any he has played with, including James Hird.
Former coach Kevin Sheedy believes Fletcher’s first season was vital in his development from schoolboy to a champion of his club.
The skinny redhead defied all logic in his debut season, coming up against giants of the game, such as Lockett, Dunstall, Kernahan, Modra and Ablett.
And he performed with such aplomb that he secured a place in the Grand Final line-up.
Remember, Derek Kickett, who played every game for the season, missed out.
As former teammate John Barnes wrote in the Geelong Advertiser this week: “He was never fazed by an opponent. His courage to play the game at the age of 17 and 80kg was amazing, and see what the bloke’s turned into.”
“No way would you want to play on Tony Lockett as a 17-year-old studying for your HSC, but he did. That’s how he is. Nothing fazes him, he just gets on with life.”
Right through until today, he has been the glue of the Bombers’ backline and his ability to repel opposition attacks refuses to wane.
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