Hall of fame for Dustin Fletcher?

[Cripps 'n' Blue Bloods]

I have absolutely no issue with him being inducted when his time comes. What happened in his final 2-3 years shouldn't affect what he achieved in the previous 496 years.
Jobe's Brownlow is the bigger issue.

 

[JackOutback]

Very difficult question. Based on his career, performance, longevity etc, you would say yes.

But now he is a convicted drug cheat and have we ever seen a convicted drug cheat in their respective sport's hall of fame. As tough as it might seem, the answer has to be no, surely.

 

[Judd2Sewell]

He deserves it, regardless of the stain of the last few seasons. A player surviving in this league for that long? We won't be seeing that again for a LONG time, if ever at all (Harvey the current obvious exception).

 

[Underdog]

considering the AFL didn't want to punish the players in any way, after the year is up I can't see the drug scandal getting in the way of anything football related in the future.

he'll make it, and you guys will have to deal with the fact that his 400 will remain. No one ever says Shane Warne - 708* do they?

This. It's clear the AFL want to sweep it under the carpet.

 

[iDon]

Very difficult question. Based on his career, performance, longevity etc, you would say yes.

But now he is a convicted drug cheat and have we ever seen a convicted drug cheat in their respective sport's hall of fame. As tough as it might seem, the answer has to be no, surely.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/09/s...ame-has-always-made-room-for-infamy.html?_r=0

Baseball have a couple. Albeit non-performance enhancing.

Barry Bonds nor Roger Clemons have yet to be included into the HoF

 

[LoungeLizard]

This. It's clear the AFL want to sweep it under the carpet.

My take is there are already drug cheats in there, they just didn't get caught.

 

[JackOutback]

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/09/s...ame-has-always-made-room-for-infamy.html?_r=0

Baseball have a couple. Albeit non-performance enhancing.

Barry Bonds nor Roger Clemons have yet to be included into the HoF

I don't have an issue with recreational drugs, but in no way should a convicted drug cheat be a Hall of Famer. It might seem tough, but here we are.

Though I agree the AFL will try to brush it quietly under the carpet and induct him at some point.

 

[Underdog]

My take is there are already drug cheats in there, they just didn't get caught.

Yep, agreed. There would be plenty of premiers with drug cheats too.

 

[HairyO]

He deserves it, regardless of the stain of the last few seasons. A player surviving in this league for that long? We won't be seeing that again for a LONG time, if ever at all (Harvey the current obvious exception).

7 players can hit 300 this year. One can hit 350.

Cant imagine Burgoyne or Mitchell lasting another 5 years to get to 400.

Bob Murphy may actually keep playing forever.

 

[LoungeLizard]

Warne cheated, still the best spinner the world has seen.
Murali cheated (different way) they changed the rules and found many bowlers were cheating, and he is still the 2nd best spinner the world has seen

 

[MaddAdam]

Why exactly would he be in there, drug cheating or no drug cheating?

 

[pazza]

Why exactly would he be in there, drug cheating or no drug cheating?

Longevity.
Consistency.
Premiership success.
Performance at International Rules, where even after retirement he was called in to be the goalkeeper.

 

[MaddAdam]

Longevity.

Sweet, John Blakey is a lock.

Consistency.

Another tick for JB.

Premiership success.

BLakey again

Performance at International Rules, where even after retirement he was called in to be the goalkeeper.

I thought it was the AFL Hall of Fame, not the international rules hall of fame.

Fletcher was top notch for about a third of his career. He should have pensioned off 100 games before he was nursed to 400.

He was a good player, great on his day, an certainly a great of HoFer of the Essendon Club, but he's nowhere near the standard of AFL HoF.

If he gets in, then Mick Martyn is a lock.

 

[Percel]

Performance at International Rules, where even after retirement he was called in to be the goalkeeper.

I think anyone who has played IR should be called into the HOF as a goalkeeper.

 

[Red Bull]

A kicker and a drug cheat .
With the standards the AFL set these days , he's a monty to be inducted asap ...

 

[Fire]

i suppose it raises another question. Why would a champion player who has starred without the assistance of peds for nearly 2 decades suddenly decide they were worth a try in the twilight of his amazing career?

Dunno but he did.

Maybe he felt he was getting too old and needed a boost?

Ultimately he cheated though.

 

[ManWithNoName]

Good grief. The stupidity in this thread. I'm absolutely and completely not surprised in the slightest.

 

[jenny61_99]

Good grief. The stupidity in this thread. I'm absolutely and completely not surprised in the slightest.

Your thoughts? Given that he may have reached 400 with assistance?

 

[Andrew Mc]

Your thoughts? Given that he may have reached 400 with assistance?

393*. Suspension was backdated after all.

 

[HairyO]

No way they can have Fletcher in there unless Cousins gets in there first. Cousins was a far better player and any tainted play due to benefits of coke were incidental to him being a code addict, rather than deliberately and systematically cheating.

TLDR; no way he should get in. But he will be in as soon as the minimum time period is up. Because the AFL do whatever they want.

 

[Sector 7G]

I wonder if Lance Armstrong is in any Cycling Hall of Fame?

 

[jenny61_99]

393*. Suspension was backdated after all.

Look. I love Fletch. I'm just so sad that * will go along side his 400. Really disappointed for him. He'd absolutely make the bombers HoF, and achieve Legend status with them, I'm not sure about achieving either in the AFL. I was so hoping he'd told them to bugger off when it came to this doping regime.

 

[Seeds]

i suppose it raises another question. Why would a champion player who has starred without the assistance of peds for nearly 2 decades suddenly decide they were worth a try in the twilight of his amazing career?

Why would an Essendon supporter suggest he was cheating before this? Do you really want to open that can of worms?

 

[Seeds]

Longevity.
Consistency.
Premiership success.
Performance at International Rules, where even after retirement he was called in to be the goalkeeper.

He won two flags. There are probably a thousand players who have won two flags. International rules? Is that a joke.

 

[HairyO]

He won two flags. There are probably a thousand players who have won two flags. International rules? Is that a joke.

Is there a less talented player who made it to 350 games than Fletcher?

Longevity surely cant be a key reason. He was a very good 2nd or 3rd tall defender. Never great.