Hall of Fame inductee and Bombers legend Dustin Fletcher has voiced support for Essendon President Andrew Welsh.
"I was lucky to play with Welshy as a teammate, and I know now he has got a pretty important job at the footy club," Fletcher said during his speech at the Hall of Fame ceremony.
“What Welshy will do at the footy club – he'll bring that spirit back to the footy club."
Welsh played alongside Fletcher from 2002 to 2011 before moving into a corporate role for the club and stepping into presidency in late 2025.
Fletcher, who is still involved with Essendon at a coaching level, is confident that Welsh can turn around a lacklustre streak for the Bomber.
“He's someone that played footy the right way, and I know that Andrew Welsh and a few others will get the footy club back on track, so Welshy, good luck with that mate, you'll do a great job,” says Fletcher.
Fletcher, who boasts a 400 game career with Essendon, also recalled his first game for the Bombers, under coach Kevin Sheedy.
The "Baby Boomer" had played one game of school level football and expected to see out the rest of the season on the Essendon reserves when an injury to Anthony Daniher secured him a place with the main team.
"I was summoned to come into Sheed's office on Friday morning and he gave me the news that I was gonna make the debut against Carlton," Fletcher said.
Fletcher quickly learned to expect the unexpected from Sheedy.
"10 minutes before the game, he said 'we're gonna move our ruckman to full-forward, I wanna have a look at you in the ruck.'...I thought he was joking!"
"I never played in the ruck again and I was absolutely rapt."
