Dustin Fletcher Biography

Essendon veteran Dustin Fletcher could become just the third player to reach 400 AFL-VFL games, according to his father, Ken.

"If he doesn't get injured and he keeps keen I honestly believe he could make 400 and be the third one ever,'' Ken Fletcher said.

"Whether or not he wants to do it, that's up to Dustin. If he's still getting a game and he's worthy of a game, I think he should play until he drops.''

Dustiin Fletcher will play on for a 21st season after the veteran signed a one-year contract extension with Essendon.

"I'm still really enjoying my footy and I think that was the key to playing on next season," Fletcher said.

"To come in and work with 40 blokes who are all mates of mine and all love their footy, you couldn't ask for a better job.

"The old body feels good, I've still got a bit of pace and I'm sure Hirdy will go easy on me at training."

Dustin Fletcher reveals he is a strong chance of continuing his astonishing career in 2013.

"Once you get over 30 you need to sit down at the end of the year and I'll have a good chat with 'Hirdy', but I'm pretty positive," Fletcher said.

"I think I've got another one in me, but time will tell in the next four or five weeks.

"I'm pretty confident mentally and confident physically that I can go again and try to help get Essendon up the ladder and have a chance to have another crack at it."

Dustin Fletcher celebrates his 350th game with a win against Gold Coast, an effort that Essendon coach James Hird has called "freaky".

"He is a freak", Essendon coach James Hird said.

"He reads the play so well and he's got good speed … He's been doing it for 350 games and hopefully he's got another 50 left in him."

Dustin Fletcher is preparing for his life after retirement by taking up a coaching role with the Bombers this season.

'The thing I will concentrate on is playing footy, that's not going to change, and now my down time will go into the coaching side of footy," Fletcher told the Herald Sun.

''Hirdy wants me to be more vocal on the ground and give more direction and he wanted me to help in football direction."

Dustin Fletcher has been ruled out of the upcoming International Rules series after failing to overcome an ankle complaint.

"Dustin is a big loss. He's one we relied on, but his ankle is a bit sore," Australia's coach Rodney Eade said.

Essendon defender Dustin Fletcher credits his enjoyment of the game as the major factor behind his longevity as he enters his 19th AFL season.

"Being in the backline, it's not like being an on-baller, when you're in the fray 90% of the time, and I'm not a centre-half forward, who's in the game a lot more, but mentally I still enjoy it," Fletcher told SEN Radio.

"That's probably the key, and I've kept my pace, that's probably another one. I keep enjoying it so I just keep going."

Essendon coach Matthew Knights says he has tough decisions to make over the future of veterans Matthew Lloyd, Scott Lucas and Dustin Fletcher.

"I am going to sit down with all of the three veterans at the end of the year. They are all pretty professional mature guys. We will leave it to them," Knights said.

"Those guys will have a big say, and virtually all the say, as to what they want to do. They have earned that right because they are champions of the Essendon footy club."

Young Essendon defender Tayte Pears will get first crack at Blues' full forward Brendan Fevola on Friday night.

Essendon assistant coach Alan Richardson said the Bombers would resist the temptation to start with the more experienced Dustin Fletcher on the dangerous forward.

"Fletcher will certainly get his opportunity to play on Fev. Tayte Pears will be the one early. He will get first crack and he has been in terrific form so he will get first go," Richardson said.

"The way Fletcher plays, it will be more a team defence than perhaps a one-on-one defence. We hope we can get that structure right."

Essendon is set to welcome three key players back for Friday night's match with Melbourne.

Key defender Dustin Fletcher and onballers Andrew Welsh are almost certain to line-up, while speedster Jason Winderlich will be named depending on how he recovers from training today.

Experienced defender Dustin Fletcher is likely to be rushed straight back to senior footy after recovering from a leg injury to help arrest Essendon's slide following two losses in a row for the Bombers.

Essendon is considering sending forward Scott Lucas down back to replace Dustin Fletcher.

Dustin Fletcher will only miss 3-4 weeks after scans revealed his foot injury wasn't as severe as first thought.

Dustin Fletcher has a break in his left leg and may miss two months of football.

Essendon could not give veteran defender Dustin Fletcher a reason to celebrate his 300th match last night after being thumped by the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba by 43 points.

Last of the Baby Bombers, Dustin Fletcher, feels there is enough zip left to carry him through 2010.

"Last year I came into the season a bit sore. This year I probably haven't done as much of the training as the other guys, but I'm feeling pretty good. I daresay next year I'll go again, and anything after that you just wait and see. At this stage the body is feeling good, touch wood, and I think I've kept my speed, which is one of the main assets. I think I've still got a bit of a role to play," Fletcher said.

Bombers coach Matthew Knights has confirmed Dustin Fletcher and Andrew Lovett won't face the Pies in the NAB Cup semi-final this weekend.

Veteran Bombers Scott Lucas and Dustin Fletcher sign one-year deals with Essendon, likely to keep them at the club till the end of their careers.

"This is really good news for us. Between Scott and Dustin, they have over 500 games of AFL experience. Both are best-and-fairest winners, both are premiership players and they are very important to this club.", chief operating officer Travis Auld said.