Bombers great Dustin Fletcher says son Mason’s run with Cincinnati Bearcats is his best sporting moment

With son Mason making his mark in the US as a punter in college football, Essendon great Dustin Fletcher has revealed just how close he came to following the American dream.

Dustin Fletcher has experienced the greatest high in the AFL twice but on Sunday morning in his lounge room he had a moment that put them in the shade.

The two-time Essendon premiership defender was glued to the TV as he watched his oldest son Mason play a pivotal role in the fairytale run of the Cincinnati Bearcats, the college football team who has gripped America.

Mason, 21, is the punter for the Bearcats who on Sunday won the American Athletic Conference which meant they head into the postseason as the only unbeaten team (13-0) in the country.

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It means they‘ve made it to the Big Four play-off on New Year’s Eve where they will be the odd one out — they’re the first non-Power Five conference team to make it — alongside college giants Alabama, Michigan and Georgia.

Fletcher says watching the success his son was experiencing had given him a satisfaction greater than his own deeds on the football field which included a club record 400 games, best and fairest award and two flags.

“Once you have got kids most people I reckon would be the same when it comes down to it,” he said.

Dustin Fletcher is Essendon’s games record holder. Picture: Michael Dodge

“Having kids is one of the best things you will do, winning a flag is obviously up there as well but seeing your kids succeed and do well at something is definitely right up there.

“I think any parent is like that, my time is done. I‘ve done my bit for sport and the Essendon Football Club, I enjoyed it and loved it but when your kids are out there chasing their dream, performing well and having a good time about it . . . I was much more excited watching him play.

“And he had his best game on Sunday as their (Houston‘s) punt returner was the No.1 returner in the country and he had to change the way he kicked a little bit.”

Mason had been set to follow in his father‘s AFL footsteps before a stress fracture in his back ruined his draft year and the Bombers’ interest started to wane.

A friend of his had just got a college gig as a punter so he thought he‘d give it a crack and had a trial with Prokick Australia which is run by former AFL player Nathan Chapman.

“I remember driving him down to Glen Waverley and he got straight out of the car and there were 40 odd kids down there,” Fletcher said.

Mason Fletcher’s Cincinnati Bearcats are the only undefeated team heading into the post-season. Picture: Getty Images

“He really enjoyed it, it was like any footy club with the camaraderie and he was lucky enough to get a look-in after three or four months which was pretty exciting.”

Fletcher, who was one of the longest kicks in the game during his career, had a brief dabble in gridiron.

“I had a couple of kicks, the boys were really young then and it was going to be a big move and I think Essendon then offered me a two-year deal so it was a bit of a no-brainer in the end,” he said.

“It‘s funny looking back at what Mason is doing and what a few of the others have done (in the NFL), it probably would have been worth a bit of a go but that’s the way it pans out.”

His youngest son Max, 19, who also has “a good leg on him”, will be joining his older brother in the US next year after snaring a scholarship at Arkansas.

But for now all roads lead to Dallas‘ AT&T Stadium, the home of NFL team the Cowboys, where Mason’s Bearcats will play off against defending national champion Alabama on December 31.

“We‘re hoping to get there and watch it because it’s something that might never happen again.”