Essendon legend Dustin Fletcher believes his son, Mason, is good enough to become the third generation Fletcher to wear Essendon's famous colours.
The 400-game superstar is hopeful the Bombers will nominate Mason as a father-son pick in this year's national draft, adding to grandfather Ken's 264 games played at the club.
โIโm probably reasonably confident (heโll be drafted by Essendon),โ Fletcher said.
โItโs a big year. Heโs got his Year 12 (studies) which we hope he does well at, big year of TAC Cup and school footy as well.
โIโm reasonably confident but heโs just got to keep working hard, put on some weight, enjoy the hard training ... heโll be thereabouts.โ
Draft experts have already likened Mason to his famous father with the way he plays, with the junior Fletcher already spending time at Essendon's Tullamarine headquarters over the summer.
โHeโs six-foot-six, so heโs taller than me now,โ Fletcher told Bomber TV.
โHeโs going to put on some weight, so it might take him a little bit longer to get going (and match it) with big guys.
โI think he might get a bit of a run forward this year (in the TAC) and weโll see how we go, working hard and trying to get kicks as a forward.
โHeโs actually a reasonable mark, I wasnโt a very good mark.
โHe reads the play pretty well. Heโs probably just got to work on his longer, endurance stuff and that (kind of stuff).โ
Mason will play TAC Cup in 2018 with the Calder Cannons with Dustin explaining how much of an eye-opening experience training with Essendon's senior players was for his son.
โHe played in a bit of game simulation type stuff and realised that heโs with the big boys now and heโs got to put on a bit of weight and get the ks in the legs if heโs going to be a chance at the end of the year to get drafted.
โIโm looking forward to the year as a parent and obviously sitting back and watching him play.โ
