Just when Essendon fans will have the chance to farewell Dustin Fletcher remains up in the air after the 400-game veteran formally announced his retirement on Friday.
It was widely anticipated that Fletcher,40, had played his final game after he was not selected for Sunday's match against Collingwood at the MCG, the last of the Bombers' campaign. The dual premiership defender made the call to rule himself out of selection.
Interim Bombers coach Matthew Egan wasn't sure whether Fletcher would have a lap of honour before the Pies game, with the club saying that no announcement would be made on Friday. Fletcher, never one to take keenly to the limelight is believed to want to thank the club's fans in person, but it remains unclear in what forum that would take place, with the Essendon best and fairest another option mooted.
"Hopefully he does something on Sunday but if not we just respect his decision that he needs some time to think about it," Egan said at the club's Tullamarine headquarters on Friday.
The match is a Collingwood home game.
Fletcher, who has played for a record 23 years at AFL level, has not played since the round-nine loss to Richmond, in which he became just the third man in VFL/AFL history to have played 400 games. He was substituted out of that game with a groin injury, with the issue curbing his hopes of a 401st senior appearance.
Egan said it was disappointing that Fletcher couldn't be considered, even as the substitute, adding that the Dons had "wanted to give him every chance".
"He got close, maybe a 50 per cent chance. [The] last few weeks he's really tried to push his rehab and get to the level and probably just didn't get close enough."
Former Geelong defender Egan, eight years younger than Fletcher, had coached the backline group of which Fletcher had been a part. Egan compared Fletcher to the coach's ex-Cats teammate Matthew Scarlett, another champion defender not prone to public utterances.
"When they speak, every single person listens," Egan said.
"[Fletcher's] someone that would pull players aside and talk to them about one-on-one sort of things. Often on the track you'd see him just having a quiet conversation with a young player and just trying to educate them.
"His positioning on his direct opponent is probably the best I've ever seen."
In a statement on Essendon's website, Fletcher thanked his family and the club.
"It's been a huge honour to play at the same club as my dad and the team you supported as a kid, and to pull on the jumper for more than 20 years is something that I'm very proud of," Fletcher said.
"I'd like to thank my wife Suzie, my boys Max and Mason and my family and friends for their support over my career, it's been great to celebrate the success with them and they've always been there for me after a win or a loss.
"I'd also like to thank the members and supporters for the way they've treated me and my family over the years. Celebrating with them after winning the flags in '93 and 2000 was really enjoyable and their support, especially over the past three years, is something that I won't forget.
"I've loved every minute of playing for Essendon, I've been fortunate to win a couple of premierships and shared some great memories with my teammates and good friends.
"I'd like to especially thank Kevin Sheedy, James Hird and [Essendon club doctor Bruce] Reid for their support and friendships over the whole journey. I can walk away knowing I gave everything I could for this club."
Egan: "When Fletch speaks, every single player listens."— Essendon FC (@EssendonFC)
September 4, 2015
Fletcher ends his career as the club's games record holder, and is behind only Michael Tuck, Brent Harvey and Kevin Bartlett on the all-time games list.
Sheedy, who coached Fletcher for the first 15 years of his career detailed what he believed had made Fletcher a great.
"Fletch arrived at Essendon as a skinny school kid, and he transformed himself into one of the greatest players to play the game," Sheedy said.
"He'd regularly beat the toughest and strongest forwards to have played the game, his shut-down speed, ability to read the game and competitiveness was something he never lost.
"He's a very humble person and the way he went about his football endeared him to football fans, not just Essendon supporters, he'll be remembered as one of the greats."
