Mason Fletcher tees off after father, Dustin Fletcher, is again snubbed by Hall of Fame selectors

7NEWS

a day ago

Mason Fletcher, the son of Essendon champion Dustin, has lashed out at the Australian Football Hall of Fame selectors.
After Tuesday night's Hall of Fame event where a Legend was unveiled and eight past players were inducted, the exclusive door was once again closed on Dustin Fletcher.
Dustin is of course one of just six players in history who has reached the 400-game milestone at the elite level.
The durable full-back retired at the end of 2015 with 400 games (exactly) to his name, two premiership medals, two All-Australian blazers, and a best and fairest (in a premiership year).
Mason, who once trained at Essendon as a teeanger but decided to pursue American football, is unhappy that his father has once again missed the cut.
On his Instagram story, he posted a picture of Hall of Fame inductees Luke Hodge, Nick Riewoldt, Erin Phillips and Daisy Pearce and captioned the image with his father's AFL record.
'400, 2 flags, 2 all aus, and a bnf doesn't do the trick, I guess,' he raged.
The outburst is not typical for the mild mannered Fletcher family.
Dustin was an unassuming defender who started his career when he was a teenager and still at school.
Although unassuming, he certainly was impactful on the field and was famous for his booming kick.
When he was 18 years old, he won a longest kick competition, and that superboot became a weapon in the years to come.
In his first season in the AFL, he became a key part of Kevin Sheedy's Baby Bombers who powered their way to premiership glory with a shock win over Carlton.
Dustin is the son of Ken Fletcher, who was also a high-profile and respected player at Essendon.
Ken played 264 games for the Bombers between 1967 and 1980 and won a club best and fairest in 1978.
Some fans were also upset that AFLW stars Pearce and Phillips had found their way into the Hall of Fame so quickly.
AFL players have to be retired for five years before they can be considered for induction.
But the criteria is different for AFLW players.
'I would never deny (Daisy's) impact on the women's game, but hasn't she been retired for 5 minutes? It took Gary Ablett Sr 8 years to be inducted, Erin less than 2 years? Over 1000 goals vs 50. 250 games vs 50 odd?' one fan said on social media.
And another: 'Congrats to her on her induction. But didn't (Phillips) only retire last year & isn't the criteria 5 years retired?'
And another: 'Well I expect (Richmond champion) Dustin Martin to be in next year and made a legend the year after if this is how quick it's going to be inducted.'