He played 23 matches with Geelong, 22 matches with St Kilda and then moved to Brisbane in 1993 where he made a name for himself as a tough, uncompromising midfielder and prolific ball-winner.
He played 107 matches with the Bears/Lions before moving to Fremantle at the end of 1997 where he played a further 79 matches – including 41 as Captain – and won the Dockers’ best and fairest in 1999.
Fletcher then returned to Geelong for a season as an Assistant Coach before taking on a role as Mick Malthouse’s assistant at Collingwood from 2005 to 2007.
His outstanding playing and coaching credentials are now being put to good use back at the Lions since his appointment as Assistant Coach at the end of 2007.
Fletcher has previously worked under premiership coaches Mark Thompson, Malthouse and Leigh Matthews and is now looking forward to undertaking his second season with the Club alongside former team-mate and new Lions Senior Coach Michael Voss.
“Vossy has come in with a fresh approach,” Fletcher said. “He has only been out of the game for a couple of years but has spent time watching games from the commentary box. During this time, he has built a knowledge which will help him analyse and – more importantly – implement strategies to combat the other 15 AFL sides.”
“I have no doubt that he will hit the ground running like he did when he played.”
The Lions Assistant Coach himself will undertake a new off-field role in 2008. Fletcher will redirect his focus primarily on the team’s offensive movement after working closely with the Lions midfield group for most of last season.
“I’ve changed roles and will be now focussing on developing innovative styles of play when we are moving the ball forward,” he said.
“It is exciting change and has added an extra spring to my step.”
Away from the Club, Fletcher remains a devoted father to his young family and husband to his equally sports-credentialed wife Narelle.
Narelle Fletcher is a WNBL Life Member having played 296 games in the national basketball competition and represented Australia.
While she still often joins the ABC commentary team to call the WNBL Game of the Week, Narelle has also discovered some other interests away from sport that keep her busy while her husband attends to his coaching duties.
A qualified practitioner of massage therapy, Narelle has recently put her practical work to commercial use from the comfort of her own home.
She is currently opening her doors to clients around Brisbane who require any sort of massage therapy including relaxation, therapeutic, sports, deep tissue and remedial massage.
Narelle comes fully endorsed by her husband who has taken advantage of her specialist services on occasion.
“She has played professional sport so she understands how muscles work and when they get sore,” Fletcher said.
“She has got a good feel and understanding for the body because she has actually played the game at a high level.”
Narelle is now inviting all Lions supporters that require massage treatment to visit her home-based massage studio on Brisbane’s South side. Appointments can be made by calling her directly on 0438 775 658.
As a show of good will from the Fletchers, Lions fans will also receive a 10% discount simply by mentioning this article.
“We are obviously happy to do whatever we can to support our own tribe,” Fletcher said.
