Star Essendon full back Dustin Fletcher today said the curtain could come down on his brilliant career at the end of next season. Out of contract at the end of this year, Fletcher admitted he would only be looking for a one-year deal and would re-assess where things stand at the completion of season 2009.
Fletcher spoke to the media on the eve of his 288th game - a match that will see him and his father Ken break the all-time record for games played by a father-son combination.
“I reckon I can play next year but I wouldn’t be going too far after that,” Fletcher said.
“My body is feeling pretty good at the moment but when you get into your 30s, it is a lot harder to keep going.
“I still enjoy the game. I think I am still with it mentally, and physically I am not too bad as well, but I think that next year will nearly be it I reckon.”
Fletcher hopes to use the remaining time in his career to help develop Essendon’s younger talent who will eventually step into his role as the last line of defence.
“I think that there is no doubt that in three to five years years we will be back up there and a real contender in the competition,"" Fletcher said.
""I think the role that I have to play in that is helping the younger guys along.
“I have been able to experience a fair bit of success throughout my career with the Premiership in my first year in 1993 and then again in 2000. I feel it is up to me to try to help these younger guys because I want to see the club going the right direction and heading back up the ladder, so that is what I will be doing next year.
“We have got a lot of young kids coming through. Tayte Pears is among the guys who are up and coming and I wouldn’t want to stand in the way of those sort of kids who are coming through, so in saying that, I think next year will be it.”
If next year is Fletcher's final year he will have played the game for 17-years and says there are a variety of reasons that have allowed him such a long career.
“I think my speed has been the main thing that has allowed me to play for so long,” he said.
“I haven’t lost any speed and I think when you start losing speed, it shows up and people jump on you.
“Injury-wise I have done okay too. I have had a couple of injuries but nothing major and I think that helps the body.
“Playing down in the backline has also helped my career. I don’t think you are in the play as much as an on-baller or a centre-half forward where you get hit up a fair bit more.
“And I guess that good genes are another thing. Dad has obviously played a large number of games and I have been able to too, so I would say that there is something in the body that does help.”
