Fletch named Seagulls best.

[Dale61]

Adrian Fletcher was a run away winner in the Gerry Callahan Medal for the Best and Fairest Player for Williamstown for the 2002 season.

Polling 99 votes, Fletcher was a comprehensie and deserved winner of the award, winning by 40 votes over Andrew Dimattina with 59 votes. Carl Steinfort finished third with 54 votes with the dual Gerry Callahan Medallist Brad Lloyd fourth on 51 votes. Donato DeAngelis enjoyed a break through VFL season by finishing in 5th place with 46 votes.

After being delisted by Fremantle at the end of the 2001 season, Fletcher ventured to Victoria Park in an attemt to pro-long his AFL career with Collingwood. However, Collingwood chose Scott Cummings to fill the final place on their list, leaving Fletcher without a playing home. Newly appointed Williamstown Coach Brad Gotch invited Fletcher to play with the Blue and Gold where he was also given the job as Assistant Coach.

Fletcher enjoyed a stellar season in the Blue and Gold regularly gathering 30+ possessions a game. His dominance was evidenced in the counting when on three occasions he polled 9 votes (a maximum of 12 votes can be obtained from each game) whilst in the Elimination Final against the Murray Kangaroos he proved his class with a masterful display to achieve a 10 vote game, the only player to do so in 2002.

The nights other major award, the Ron James Memorial Trophy for the player voted amongst his peers as the Most Valuable Player, went to Matthew Cape. The winning of this award is testament to the character of Cape as he managed only 1 senior game in 2002. His leadership amongst the playing group and especially amongst the reserves premiership side for which he was co-captain was a major factor behind his success.

Matthew Pearce was awarded the Coaches Trophy, whilst James Podsiadly won the Clubs leading goalkicker award.

In the Reserves Cape capped off a wonderful double by winning the Bill Sheahan Memorial for the Best and Fairest player for 2002. Cape was one vote behind Ake Fonua going into the Grand Final but gained enough votes during the Grand Final to overtake Fonua and win the award.

Cape and Fonua finished with 76 and 73 votes repectively. In third place was Brendan Hollow with 67 votes, Christian Ryan 4th with 58 votes and Terry Knight 5th with 57 votes.

Luke Jarrad won the Coaches Trophy, Terry Knight was voted as the best player in the finals series and Jeremy Dukes won the Gulls Supporters Group Encouragement Award.

Chris Pace was named the Club Person of the Year.


"Racetracks are for racing, roads are for getting there."

[Dale61]

With CFC going for a youth policy, it would be doubtful if Fletch gets 'drafted', but it wouldn't suprise me to see him continue working with the young kids. His work with Mark McGough has paid handsome dividends, and his on-field leadership with Williamstown is proving to be invaluable.

"Racetracks are for racing, roads are for getting there."

[Dale61]

Fletch has just turned 33 (10/10/69).

"Racetracks are for racing, roads are for getting there."