There must have been times when Fletcher Roberts wondered if he would ever play his 50th game of AFL footy.
The Western Bulldogs' 2016 Grand Final win was Roberts' 37th match, but after playing 10 games the following season, he was forced to bide his time after game number 48, a loss to GWS in Round 1, 2018.
Not only would Roberts have to wait more than a year to reach his milestone, but he would have to take a trip to Mars — twice!
After spending most of 2018 playing for the Bulldogs' VFL side Footscray, Roberts earned a call-up for the Dogs' Round 19 match against Port Adelaide at their second home, Mars Stadium in Ballarat.
Roberts must have finally believed his 50th game was within reach, but unfortunately the game against the Power, his 49th, did not pan out as hoped. Port won easily, and Roberts did not retain his place in the side.
After another gruelling pre-season, Roberts spent the early part of the 2019 season with Footscray once more, giving the VFL Bulldogs sterling service in defence and attack.
His hard work and persistence were finally rewarded on this day last year when he was named in the Bulldogs' team to play Brisbane.
Once again Roberts and the Bulldogs made the trip up the Western Highway to Ballarat. This time, however, the day would have a happy ending.
The Bulldogs got off to a slow start and trailed by nine points at quarter time. The deficit blew out to 16 midway through the second term, but a great snapped goal by Jack Macrae from the pocket sparked a Doggies revival, and when Aaron Naughton split the goalposts with a beautiful kick from a tight angle on the stroke of half time, the Dogs were in front.
A long bomb from Matt Suckling kicked the third quarter off perfectly for the Dogs and they went on with the job in the second half, running out 16-point winners to get their season back on track, and to give Fletcher Roberts a win in his milestone game.
Josh Dunkley was a Bulldog beast, collecting 36 possessions, 22 of them contested, while Bontempelli (26 possessions and a goal), Macrae (28 disposals) and Naughton (three goals) all played a big part in the win.
Fletcher Roberts himself played a solid game in defence, the victory capping off in style his 50th game, one which had been a long time coming, but which was just reward for years of hard work.
Roberts' 51st game the following week was his last, and his playing days at VU Whitten Oval came to a close at the end of the 2019 season.
In terms of games played, Roberts' career was brief, but when measured by importance it ranks very highly, especially considering the vital roles he played in the 2016 Preliminary and Grand Final wins.
Just how highly, was verified in February this year when Roberts was awarded life membership of the Western Bulldogs, alongside his premiership teammates Clay Smith and Shane Biggs.
Like Smith and Biggs, Fletcher Roberts' career was short, but it was definitely sweet at times, particularly in 2016 when he became a premiership player. Fletcher Roberts will always be a Bulldog through and through.
