Dustin Fletcher feels embarrassed when he goes out in public in wake of WADA ban

BANNED Essendon champion Dustin Fletcher says he feels “embarrassed” to go out in public in the wake of the successful WADA appeal against the Essendon 34.

Banned Essendon Players

BANNED Bombers champion Dustin Fletcher says he feels “embarrassed” to go out in public in the wake of the successful WADA appeal against the Essendon 34.

Fletcher, who retired last year after 400 career games, says being labelled a drug cheat has tarnished the reputation he spent his entire 23-year career building.

“I’m not sure if it is just me, but you feel that it just affecting your reputation a little bit,” Fletcher told the Sunday Footy Show.

“There’s just that bit of that anxious feeling or that bit of embarrassment at times when you go out where you probably shouldn’t have that feeling.

“I’ve been brought up never to cheat or never to do anything that’s not right so to have that tick against my name still now — you look my name up, that probably hurts the most.

“I’ve been around footy a long time … and I still feel a little bit embarrassed when I go out.”

Fletcher is one of a number of former Essendon players to be affected by the ban post his AFL career after it was revealed last month he was barred from being involved in his son’s football career.

He also cannot take up an opportunity to coach school tennis.

Former teammate Matthew Lloyd said as part of Fletcher’s punishment, he was unable to watch his son play in a Calder Cannons TAC Cup match at Essendon’s training ground in Tullamarine.

“I finished football and one of the reasons probably why I did finish, you wanted to help your kids out with regard to their footy and be a bit more involved with that,” Fletcher said.

“You have a bit of an idea what you can and can’t do, but there is always that thing where you are quite sure.

Dustin Fletcher played 400 career games for the Bombers in a career spanning 23 years. Picture: Colleen Petch

“I’m not sure about the tennis coaching but I think it falls under the banner of the WADA sport, so I can’t coach tennis.”

While Fletcher’s 23-year career has come to an end he hopes to see each of the 12 current Essendon players return to the club to continue their careers.

But uncertainty surrounds the future of Jobe Watson, who some fear has played his last game.

The Bombers captain will be 32 by the time the 2017 season begins but Fletcher hopes Watson, who has been training with fellow banned players, will find the hunger to play on.

“I wouldn’t blame Jobe (if he decided not to go back to Essendon),” Fletcher said.

“He’s his own person. I’m not sure how old he is but to see him training down there, he looks as fit as he’s ever been. I’d love for him to go back and play.

“It will be his decision and I hope he makes the right one.”

Already gritty midfielder Heath Hocking has re-signed, while the Herald Sun reported last week speedster Travis Colyer could be the next player to commit.

A fit looking Job Watson trains with fellow banned Bombers. Picture: Hamish Blair

“I’d love them to go back,” Fletcher said. “I’d love every one of them to go back into the Essendon Football Club.

“The footy club for me has been 23 years. I have a premiership in my first year as an 18-year-old and then 2000 again. I’d just love for them to go back next year, feel fresh and have a really good hit out and just get Essendon back up to competing on an even level and challenging for finals and seeing Essendon back up there.”

The past and present Essendon 34 have lodged an appeal to the Swiss Court against the decision handed down by the Court of Arbitration for Sport — the players’ last avenue to clear their name.

“You’ve probably been angry really for four years. It’s been that long an event,” Fletcher said.

“I think it is nearly done. We will move on when the verdict gets — the appeal (decision) gets handed down.”