Dustin Fletcher

Dustin Fletcher (born 7 May 1975) is an Australian rules footballer with the Essendon Football Club. He is renowned as one of the finest defenders in the AFL, and has held down a spot at full-back for his team for many years. He is the son of former Bombers player Ken Fletcher.

As part of the "Baby Bombers" premiership team of 1993, Fletcher is the only surviving members of that side, which included players such as James Hird, Joe Misiti, and Mark Mercuri. Fletcher was not only lucky to celebrate a premiership in his debut season, but follow it up in Essendon's 2000 campaign, in which they lost just 1 of the 29 games they played that season. He also won Essendon's Best and Fairest award that year, the Crichton Medal, as well as winning All-Australian selection.

Throughout his career, the gangly 199 cm Fletcher has had many trips to the tribunal due to his tough style. In 2004, he was involved in an accidental clash with Andrew McDougall of West Coast at Subiaco in which he lost two of his teeth, and had to have them re-implanted.

Fletcher's execution of the torpedo punt was often used as a set play clearing a strategy of coach Kevin Sheedy.

In 2005 Fletcher cemented his place as one of the AFL's premier full-backs and was unlucky not to gain selection in the All-Australian side, being kept out by Ben Rutten at full-back. However, he performed brilliantly as goalkeeper in the International Rules series of that year as goalkeeper.

In 2006 Fletcher had another solid year, playing solely at full-back even if it meant he didn't take the best forward. He suffered a hamstring injury in Round 20, bringing a premature end to his season.

In Round 4 of 2007, against the St. Kilda Football Club, Fletcher kicked a 75 metre torpedo punt goal on the run. He kicked it 10 metres behind the centre square and it landed in row 4 or 5 behind goal. It was the fifth longest kick in VFL/AFL history.

Fletcher was announced on the interchange of the 2007 All-Australian team after one of his best seasons for Essendon. In this season he also finished second, on 249 votes, to the retiring James Hird, who polled 251 votes, in the Crichton Medal.

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 announced mid 2008 that season 2009 will most likely be his last

Fletcher is married to Suzie Fletcher and they have two sons - Mason and Max.

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