AFL star Dustin Fletcher’s sons to go head-to-head in US college football game
The Fletcher family’s US college football face-off has ended in an exciting win in front of almost 75,000 fans and AFL legend dad Dustin.
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Exclusive: The Fletcher family’s college football face-off has ended in an exciting win on debut for younger brother Max in front of almost 75,000 fans.
AFL legend Dustin Fletcher and his wife Suzie were in the crowd to cheer on Max’s Arkansas Razorbacks on their home field against older brother Mason’s Cincinnati Bearcats.
The brothers met for a hug before the game as both teams warmed up, having not seen each other since Mason moved to the United States to chase his college football dream at the end of 2020.
Adding to the excitement for the family, Max won a tight battle to be chosen as Arkansas’s starting punter. He settled well after several nervous early kicks.
Prior to the game, Max said he would understand if Reid Bauer kept his starting spot, as he praised the senior’s willingness to help him learn tactics and game plans.
“I didn’t know anything, I just knew how to kick,” Max told News Corp.
Mason continued on strongly from his impressive freshman season but it was not enough to overcome the Razorbacks, who prevailed 31-24.
Prior to the game, Mason’s parents handed him a jar of Vegemite, with Dustin posting a video on Instagram of the emotional reunion between Mason and his mother. They had also been apart for more than two and a half years.
Four-hundred-game Essendon legend Dustin Fletcher was just another face in the crowd in Arkansas, watching his sons Mason and Max go head-to-head in college football for the first time.
And according to Max, the 19-year-old punter on debut for the Razorbacks on their home turf, that’s just the way he likes it.
“I remember playing football and everyone knew who I was,” he told News Corp earlier this week.
“I got bullied and all that sort of stuff, it was pretty bad, and that’s why me and Mason decided to come over here and play college football. No one really knows who my dad is and what AFL is … It takes a lot of pressure off.”
Of course, the intense spotlight of college football brings a whole new type of pressure, but the Fletcher brothers are already making a name for themselves – and dreaming of going pro.
In his first season with the Cincinnati Bearcats, the 200cm Mason became the team’s starting punter, unleashing long bombs and even the “billionaire strut” celebration made famous by UFC star Conor McGregor.
Watching his older brother from Melbourne, Max said he “wanted a piece of that”.
The pair both secured college scholarships via a rigorous training program with Prokick Australia under founder and former AFL player Nathan Chapman.
Mason was the first to swap the Sherrin for an American football after stress fractures in his back slowed a promising Australian rules junior career.
“Dustin brought him down and let him do his thing,” Chapman said.
“As soon as he came down, we said there’s plenty for us to work with, if you want that change of direction. He was up for it … He put a lot of work in and that got him an opportunity.”
When Mason headed over to the US at the end of 2020, Max signed up with Chapman as well, after a year he said was ruined by the Covid pandemic. He is now locked in a tight battle to be Arkansas’s starting punter.
“I always had a big leg. Everyone knew Dad for having a big leg, and me and Mason were sort of like that,” the 195cm younger brother said.
“It’s been a long journey but it’s definitely been worth it.”
This weekend’s college football season opener was the first time the brothers have seen each other since Mason moved to Cincinnati, and to cap off the family reunion, their parents were in the stands.
“We’re excited, nervous, all of those sorts of things,” Dustin said.
“My wife said she won’t be able to watch any of their punts.”
He said he was proud to see them chasing their dreams, potentially all the way to the NFL, a pathway Chapman said was open for Max and Mason.
“Both have the tools, the size and the ability, but pro sport is a funny thing,” he said.
“It won’t be through lack of ability but they’ve got to put that to work.”
Before the game, the brothers were focused on beating each other on Sunday.
“It’s game time and we’ve got to be really locked in,” Max said earlier this week.
“But I’m really looking forward to seeing (Mason) punting. I know he’s got a few celebrations up his sleeve.”
As for their parents, they will be cheering both teams equally.
“We’ll be a bit emotional once they both run out … But we’re going to win either way,” Dustin said.
tom.minear@news.com.au
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Originally published as AFL star Dustin Fletcher’s sons to go head-to-head in US college football game
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