Chad Fletcher

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Chad Fletcher
Personal information
Full nameChad Fletcher
Date of birth (1979-08-30) 30 August 1979
Height/Weight179 cm / 81 kg
Position(s)Midfield
Playing career
YearsClubGames (Goals)
1998–2009
1999
1999–2009		Subiaco
Claremont
West Coast		49 (39)
18 (11)
179 (74)
International team honours
YearsTeamGames (Goals)
2003Australia2 (0)
Career highlights

Chad Fletcher (born 30 August 1979) is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the Subiaco and Claremont Football Clubs in the West Australian Football League (WAFL) and the West Coast Eagles in the Australian Football League (AFL). From Perth, Western Australia, Fletcher was recruited by West Coast in the 1998 Rookie Draft, and made his debut for the club in 1999. Having represented Australia in the 2003 International Rules Series against Ireland, he was subsequently named in the All-Australian team in 2004. Fletcher played in West Coast's 2006 premiership victory over Sydney, and retired at the end of the 2009 season after a total of 179 games for the club.

Football career

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.

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 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.[1]

2006 Season

Fletcher was also known as a "prolific" ballwinner[2] 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.[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 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 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 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.

Retirement from AFL

Fletcher was told that he was not needed in 2010 and beyond, playing his last AFL game on Round 22, 2009 against Richmond.[4] Fletcher then begun training with WAAFL side Hamersley Carine.

After AFL

Fletcher spent the 2010 season playing for the Balmain Dockers in the Sydney Football League, but retired after the Dockers did not make finals.[4]

Life away from football

Close Call

During West Coast's 2006 end of year holiday in Las Vegas, Fletcher had a brush with death after reportedly choking on his own vomit. Fletcher was rushed to hospital and had to be revived after he stopped breathing. His case was so serious he spent four days in a U.S. hospital and flew straight back to Perth after checking out.[4]

Fashion

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 joined Chad as a model for Live in late 2007. In 2008, Fletcher released his own fashion label, named Holy Roller. Chad described his fashion career as "a good way to get away from football".

Drug bust

In August 2010, Fletcher was arrested after allegedly being caught by police in possession of cocaine, outside King's Cross nightclub, Hugo's. He will appear in court in September.[4]

References

  1. ↑ FootyGoss :: All the Latest AFL and WAFL Breaking News
  2. ↑ A few short words – Round 13 < The Soaring – Flying high with the West Coast Eagles: 2006 AFL Premiers!
  3. ↑ PRO-STATS Australian Rules Football – The Stats The Coaches Use
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Horn, Johnathon. (24 August 2010) "Fletcher nabbed in drugs bust". Sportal. Retrieved 24 August 2010.

External links

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