By Kirstie Fitzgerald
A wise philosopher once said if your heart still beats, one is never too old.
And it seems that is the mantra Essendon full-back Dustin Fletcher lives by as he celebrates his 40th birthday today as the oldest current AFL player.
Signing on this year for a record-breaking 23rd AFL season, Fletcher is set to become only the third player to break the 400-game barrier, behind Michael Tuck (426) and Kevin Bartlett (403).
Despite his age, Fletcher remains an important member of Essendon’s defensive group lacing up the boots this weekend to play game 398.
While Fletcher continues to defy football odds, three men in the WRFL are also pulling on the boots and beating the clock as our oldest current players this season.
See below for a snapshot of their careers:
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#1 Alan Parker
Current Club: Sunshine Heights D.O.B 22/05/1961 (53-years-old) Career Games: 377 Last Game: April 11th, 2015 (Round 1, Reserves) Fun Fact: Missed one season (2002) from 2001-2010, then pulled on the boots again this year after four seasons off.
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#2 Ross Hedley
Current Club: Nth Footscray D.O.B 15/05/1962 (52-years-old) Career Games: 98 Last Game: 25th April, 2015 (Rd 3, Reserves) Fun Fact: Has played in the AFL Masters Carnival for Vic Country Verterans Over 40s (2010 & 2011), Vic Metro Veterans Over 50s (2012), Vic Metro Superules FL with Williamstown Premier 47 (2013) and Premier Reserves 35’s a few 47’s games as well as played two games in NFFC seniors in 2014.
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#3 Mark Kozole
Current Club: Sanctuary Lakes D.O.B 11/11/1962 (52-years-old) Career Games: 89 career games Last Game: May 2nd, 2015 (Round #4-Div 3 Reserves) Fun Fact: Began with Laverton (Western Magpies) in 2004 -2009, then had a year off in 2010 before playing with Violet Town in the Kyabram DFNL for three season before pulling on the boots in 2015 for Sanctuary Lakes.
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Last Modified on 07/05/2015 10:07