Fletch can top 400, say greats

Dustin Fletcher can reach 400 games, says James Hird. Picture: Nicole Garmston Source: Herald Sun

A knock on the door at the 400 game club. Cartoon by David 'Macca' McArthur Source: Herald Sun

ESSENDON coach James Hird, and the two men who have played more than 400 league games, say Dustin Fletcher can reach the remarkable milestone.

Tomorrow night Fletcher will play his 367th game for the Bombers and celebrate the 20th anniversary of his debut in Round 2, 1993.

Hird said he saw no reason why Fletcher could not play beyond this season, with Michael Tuck (426 games for Hawthorn) also urging the 37-year-old to play on.

Fletcher's father Ken believes his son will play again next year.

Given he needs 33 more games to reach 400, Fletcher could eclipse Kevin Bartlett (403 games for Richmond) by the end of next season.

Fletcher is more than three years older than North Melbourne's Brent Harvey, who, at 34 and with 346 games, also has a chance to join the 400-game club.

"It is an amazing story," Hird told the Herald Sun.

"You have Michael Tuck and you have had Kevin Bartlett, and hopefully we have Dustin Fletcher. It is a fantastic story and I hope it goes a lot longer."

Asked if there was any reason for Fletcher not to get to 400, Hird said: "Not at the moment, not the way he's playing. Footy can change quickly, but everything I have seen on the training track and certainly in Round 1, he's shaping up for another very good year."

Bartlett said Fletcher was a marvel, and that modern sports science would allow more players to get close to games milestones that have stood for decades.

"I hope he gets to 400 games and plays for as long as he possibly can. He has been an absolutely marvellous player," he said.

Tuck urged Fletcher to keep playing the game.

"I would like to keep it (the record), but one day he could have it. Records are made to be broken," Tuck said.

"Anyone is capable of 400, but the big thing is injuries. When you get a little bit older it takes a little while to get over the game itself, let alone injuries."

Fletcher will break Simon Madden's club record of 378 games as early as Round 14.

"Don't worry about my record, worry about Tucky's. I don't know if I have seen another guy of his size who can run that fast and play on so many players," Madden said.

Fletcher drew level with Bernie Quinlan (366 games) in Round 1, and trails Tuck (426), Bartlett (403), Robert Harvey (383), Madden (378) and Craig Bradley (375).

Ken Fletcher said he had no doubt his son would play on, barring injury.

"I reckon if he doesn't get injured, and let's hope that doesn't happen, he will play again next year," Fletcher said.
 

Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang

Fletch can top 400, say greats

Dengan url

http://ganangandollar.blogspot.com/2013/04/fletch-can-top-400-say-greats.html

Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya

Fletch can top 400, say greats

namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link

Fletch can top 400, say greats

sebagai sumbernya