Essendon coach James Hird is determined that Dustin Fletcher will play in the AFL again before retirement.
Fletcher is sidelined with an abdominal injury and has not played since his 400th game in round nine.
The widespread expectation is that this is the Essendon legend's last season.
Hird was asked about Fletcher after Saturday night's loss to Port Adelaide.
"He won't get back before two or three weeks, definitely," Hird said.
"Hopefully somewhere after that he'll come back.
"I'd like to see him play again ... he deserves to play again at some stage and I think the supporters would love to see him play again.
"Whether he does or not, that will be up to his body."
Hird then added he was yet to talk to Fletcher about whether this will be his last season as an AFL player.
"You'd have to think it's close to the end for Fletch but I'd rather have that conversation with him before I have it with you (media)," Hird said.
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