Chad Fletcher
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| Personal information | |
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| Birth | August 30, 1979 , |
| Recruited from | Subiaco Football Club (WAFL) |
| Height and weight | 179cm / 81kg |
| Playing career¹ | |
| Debut | Round 15, July 9, 1999, West Coast Eagles vs. Richmond Tigers, at MCG |
| Team(s) | West Coast Eagles (1999-)
164 games, 72 goals |
| ¹ Statistics to end of Round 9, 2008 season | |
| Career highlights | |
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Chad Fletcher (born 30 August 1979) is an Australian rules footballer who plays for the West Coast Eagles in the Australian Football League. His guernsey jumper is #7.
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[edit] Early career
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.
[edit] Career rise
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 is one of the most prolific ballwinners in the AFL, and plays in the West Coast midfield with Daniel Kerr. Chad Fletcher is sometimes forgotten in West Coasts incredible midfield but does show he is 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.[1]
[edit] 2006 Season
Fletcher is also known as a "prolific" ballwinner [2] that can accumulate many possessions in a game. However 2006 saw him to be 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.[3] 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 wasn't 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 seen in previous years. He played a major part in the Eagles 1 point Premiership victory over the Swans.
[edit] 2007 Season
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 in L.A. involving Fletcher also haunted him later in the season. However, Chad will still be considered a key midfielder for West Coast in the 2008 season. With ex-team mates Ben Cousins and Chris Judd gone, Fletcher will have to stand up and do the best he can, which will be sure to help the West Coast Eagles remain a strong force within the AFL.
[edit] Close Call
During West Coast's 2006 end of year holiday in Las Vegas, Fletcher (27) had a brush with death after reportedly choking on his own vomit. Chad was rushed to hospital and had to be revived after he stopped breathing. His case was so serious he spent 4 days in the U.S. hospital and flew straight back to Perth after checking out.[4]
[edit] Footy to Fashion
For the past two years, Chad Fletcher has been the front model for the men's clothing range at Live Clothing (a W.A. owned and operated clothing store). Team mate Mark Nicoski has joined Chad as a model for Live late in 2007. In 2008, Chad Fletcher will be releasing his own fashion label, called Holy Roller. Chad described his fashion career as "a good way to get away from football". Chad Fletcher is still an eagles player however and will play for them in the 2008 premiership season.
[edit] External links
- Chad Fletcher profile on the Official AFL Website of the West Coast Eagles Football Club
- Chad Fletcher's statistics from AFL Tables
[edit] References
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