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Key Facts

Full name
Chad Fletcher

Known as
Chad Fletcher

Born
30 August 1979 (age 44)

Age at first & last AFL game
First game: 19y 313d
Last game: 29y 363d

Height and weight
Height: 179 cm
Weight: 80 kg

Senior clubs
West Coast; Australia

Jumper numbers
West Coast: 41, 7

Chad Fletcher

ClubLeagueCareer spanGamesGoalsAvgWin %AKIAHBAMKBV
West CoastAFL1999-2009179740.4152%12.519.124.3538
AustraliaIR2003100.00
Total1999-2009180740.41

AFL: 10,994th player to appear, 875th most games played, 1,480th most goals kickedWest Coast: 120th player to appear, 34th most games played, 47th most goals kicked

Chad Fletcher played 179 games for West Coast from 1999 to 2009. He was renowned as an AFL Dream-Team champion.

Fletcher began his professional football career in the West Australian Football League with Subiaco, and was elevated from the West Coast rookie list in 1998. He made his AFL debut in 1999, but did not make his mark on the league until 2002.

Chad Fletcher was 4th in the West Coast Best & Fairest voting in 2002 before he improved to 3rd in 2003 and 2nd in 2004. In 2003, Fletcher was selected to play for Australia in the International Rules series against Ireland, and in 2004 he was named to the interchange bench of his first All Australian Team.

Fletcher was one of the most prolific ballwinners in the AFL, and played in the West Coast midfield with Daniel Kerr. Chad Fletcher was sometimes forgotten in West Coast's incredible midfield but did show he was very skillful.

Fletcher is also remembered for running into a fence while practicing a training drill blindfolded in 2005, an initiative by coach John Worsfold. He was not injured.

Fletcher was also known as a "prolific" ballwinner who could accumulate many possessions in a game. However 2006 saw him considered as one of the least accurate kicks in the league, costing the Eagles many turnovers. He was ranked 1st in clangers per game at the Eagles in 2006. Turnovers that have cost Fletcher include his Round 2 pass to opposition player Graeme Johncock, fumbling a one-two handball from Chris Judd (which led to a goal for Sydney player Brett Kirk), and a set shot miss from 20 metres out against Fremantle.

Having said this, Fletcher's overall season was not too bad and he fully redeemed himself in his finest game of the year during the 2006 Grand Final against Sydney. Supporters were thrilled to see him back to his great self as had been seen in previous years. He played a major part in the Eagles one point Premiership victory over the Swans.

2007 was an average season for Fletcher. Although he was not considered a bad player, his impact on the game was not huge. This is most likely due to his preseason injury which forced him out of play for the NAB Cup and the first several rounds of the premiership season. An off-field incident during post-season celebrations in Las Vegas involving Fletcher also haunted him later in the season. However, Chad would still be considered a key midfielder for West Coast in the 2008 season. With ex-team mates Ben Cousins and Chris Judd gone, Fletcher would have to stand up and do the best he could, which will be sure to help the West Coast Eagles remain a strong force within the AFL.

Fletcher was told that he was not needed in 2010 and beyond, playing his last AFL game on Round 22, 2009 against Richmond.

Fletcher spent the 2010 season playing for the Balmain Dockers in the Sydney Football League, but retired after the Dockers did not make finals.

Sources

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chad_Fletcher

Footnotes

* Behinds calculated from the 1965 season on.
+ Score at the end of extra time.