Adrian Fletcher
Encyclopedia
Adrian Fletcher is a former Australian rules football
er and current assistant coach. He is regarded as one of football's nomads, having played for five Australian Football League
clubs in his 13 year career. Fletcher's play relied on being an excellent play reader which resulted in him being a prolific possession gatherer, especially by handball
.
, Tasmania
with the 20th selection in the 1988 VFL Draft
by the Geelong Football Club
after winning the William Leitch Medal
as the best player in the Tasmanian Football League
. He played 23 games for Geelong between 1989 and 1991, kicking a total of 10 goals. From the Cats he was traded to St Kilda for the 1992 season, where he played 22 games and also kicked 10 goals. Due to a contract dispute, he left the Saints and was selected by the Brisbane Bears
with the 4th selection in the 1993 Pre-season Draft
.
playing on the half back line.
In 1997, however, his form slumped after the lack of a solid pre-season. He fought back, however, and ended up with a season average of 19 possessions per game in 21 games. However, despite a season that, although starting badly, was not considered by Fletcher to be his worst, he was traded to the Fremantle Dockers.
award in 1998 and winning it in 1999. He was then named co-captain along with Shaun McManus
in 2000 and 2001. At the end of the 2001 season he was asked to retire by the Fremantle club despite being ranked in the AFL's top 20 for overall disposals and also was in the AFL's top five for handballs. He played 79 games for the Dockers ending up with 25 goals.
While at Fremantle, Fletcher is remembered for being the player who kicked the ball to field umpire Peter Carey
, when Carey famously and humorously took a chest mark in general play.
in the VFL
for two years. He won the Williamstown best and fairest award in both these seasons and also won the Norm Goss Medal for best on ground in the 2003 VFL grand final, Fletcher's last game of senior football. He also was a development coach for the Collingwood Football Club
(Williamstown's AFL-affiliate) during this time.
In 2004, Fletcher joined the Geelong Football Club
as an assistant coach, before returning to Collingwood in 2005 as their midfield coach. After the 2007 season he left Collingwood and returned to the Brisbane Lions
as an assistant coach, where he remains as of 2011.
He has made several appearances in AFL Legends Matches. His wife, Narelle Fletcher, played 295 games in the Women's National Basketball League
.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er and current assistant coach. He is regarded as one of football's nomads, having played for five Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
clubs in his 13 year career. Fletcher's play relied on being an excellent play reader which resulted in him being a prolific possession gatherer, especially by handball
Handball (Australian rules football)
Handball is a term in the sport of Australian rules football which describes a method of disposing of possession of the football by hand. It is the most frequently used alternative to kicking the ball...
.
Early career
Fletcher was recruited from Glenorchy Football ClubGlenorchy Football Club
The Glenorchy District Football Club is an Australian rules football club currently playing in the Tasmanian State League and the Southern Football League in Tasmania, Australia.-Origins:...
, Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
with the 20th selection in the 1988 VFL Draft
1988 VFL Draft
The 1988 VFL National Draft was the third annual National draft held by the Victorian Football League . It consisted of a pre-season draft and a national draft....
by the Geelong Football Club
Geelong Football Club
The Geelong Football Club, nicknamed The Cats, is a professional Australian rules football club, named after and based in the city of Geelong, playing in the Australian Football League . The club has been the VFL/AFL premiers nine times, with a record equalling 3 in the AFL era. Geelong has also...
after winning the William Leitch Medal
William Leitch Medal
The William Leitch Medal was an annual award which was presented to the Best and Fairest player in the TANFL/TFL Statewide League.At various times prior to 1930 and between 1935 and 1939 the TFL award was known by other names....
as the best player in the Tasmanian Football League
Tasmanian Football League
Tasmanian State League is the highest ranked Australian rules football league in Tasmania, Australia.The league has a long and convoluted history which dates back to its founding on 12 June 1879 Tasmanian State League (TSL) (formerly known as the Tasmanian Football League (TFL), Tasmanian...
. He played 23 games for Geelong between 1989 and 1991, kicking a total of 10 goals. From the Cats he was traded to St Kilda for the 1992 season, where he played 22 games and also kicked 10 goals. Due to a contract dispute, he left the Saints and was selected by the Brisbane Bears
Brisbane Bears
The Brisbane Football Club, formerly nicknamed The Bears was an Australian rules football club and the first Queensland-based club in the Victorian Football League . The club played its first match in 1987, but struggled on and off the field until it made the finals for the first time in 1995...
with the 4th selection in the 1993 Pre-season Draft
1992 AFL Draft
The 1992 AFL Draft is the annual draft of talented players by Australian rules football teams that participate in the main competition of that sport, the Australian Football League...
.
Brisbane career
Fletcher made his name as a tough, ball-winning midfielder at Brisbane. Between 1993 and 1996, Fletcher played 86 of a possible 90 games, finishing in the top five of the club champion award in each year. He was a significant player in the Bears' 1996 preliminary final loss to North MelbourneNorth Melbourne Football Club
The North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is the fourth oldest Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League and is one of the oldest sporting clubs in Australia and the world...
playing on the half back line.
In 1997, however, his form slumped after the lack of a solid pre-season. He fought back, however, and ended up with a season average of 19 possessions per game in 21 games. However, despite a season that, although starting badly, was not considered by Fletcher to be his worst, he was traded to the Fremantle Dockers.
Fremantle career
Fletcher had an immediate impact at Fremantle, finishing second in the club's Best and FairestDoig Medal
The Doig Medal is the best and fairest award given out to the player considered best and fairest during a season for the Fremantle Football Club in the AFL....
award in 1998 and winning it in 1999. He was then named co-captain along with Shaun McManus
Shaun McManus
Shaun John McManus is a former Australian rules footballer. He is one of the most popular players to ever represent the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League and is often seen as an icon or favourite son of the club...
in 2000 and 2001. At the end of the 2001 season he was asked to retire by the Fremantle club despite being ranked in the AFL's top 20 for overall disposals and also was in the AFL's top five for handballs. He played 79 games for the Dockers ending up with 25 goals.
While at Fremantle, Fletcher is remembered for being the player who kicked the ball to field umpire Peter Carey
Peter Carey (umpire)
Peter Carey is a former Australian rules football umpire in the Australian Football League.Throughout his career at VFL/AFL level, Carey umpired 307 senior games. He was named the All-Australian umpire in 1992, and he umpired four Grand Finals....
, when Carey famously and humorously took a chest mark in general play.
Post AFL and coaching career
After being delisted by Fremantle after the 2001 season and not being drafted by another AFL club, Fletcher retired from the AFL, and played for Williamstown Football ClubWilliamstown Football Club
The Williamstown Football Club, nicknamed The Seagulls, is an Australian rules football club based in Melbourne and are currently playing in the Victorian Football League...
in the VFL
Victorian Football League
The Victorian Football League which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association , taking its new name as from the 1996 season, is the premier Australian rules football league in Victoria The Victorian Football League (VFL) which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association...
for two years. He won the Williamstown best and fairest award in both these seasons and also won the Norm Goss Medal for best on ground in the 2003 VFL grand final, Fletcher's last game of senior football. He also was a development coach for the Collingwood Football Club
Collingwood Football Club
The Collingwood Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
(Williamstown's AFL-affiliate) during this time.
In 2004, Fletcher joined the Geelong Football Club
Geelong Football Club
The Geelong Football Club, nicknamed The Cats, is a professional Australian rules football club, named after and based in the city of Geelong, playing in the Australian Football League . The club has been the VFL/AFL premiers nine times, with a record equalling 3 in the AFL era. Geelong has also...
as an assistant coach, before returning to Collingwood in 2005 as their midfield coach. After the 2007 season he left Collingwood and returned to the Brisbane Lions
Brisbane Lions
The Brisbane Lions is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Brisbane, Queensland. The club was formed from the merger of the Brisbane Bears and the Fitzroy Lions in 1996...
as an assistant coach, where he remains as of 2011.
He has made several appearances in AFL Legends Matches. His wife, Narelle Fletcher, played 295 games in the Women's National Basketball League
Women's National Basketball League
The Women's National Basketball League is the pre-eminent women's professional basketball league in Australia. It currently is composed of ten teams. The league was founded in 1981 and is the women's counterpart to the National Basketball League...
.