Firstly, it's the week in which the career of the man who has coached more games than any other - Mick Malthouse - came to an end.

Secondly, it's also the week in which our man, Dustin Fletcher, becomes just the third player in history to crack the 400-game milestone on Saturday night.

When reflecting this week on the end for Malthouse after 718 games, he was the last link back to the big four coaches that I grew up with - the others being Sheedy, Pagan and Matthews.

End of an era.

ND: Incredible records those four achieved as coaches, and in the case of Matthews and Sheedy, as players at Hawthorn and Richmond respectively.

A pity that Malthouse's exit was not the way he or the Blues would have liked.

History shows though, Westy, that few, if any, coaches have the final say on when their coaching days will end.

As Fletcher prepares for game 400 there is some talk he could play on next season. What a remarkable feat that would be.

Fletcher has not been nursed along to this milestone. He is still one of the best and most dependable players in the Essendon team.

LW: There are some games of footy that no matter how many years ago they were, you never forget them.

One such game was back on a Saturday afternoon in early 1993 when the Baby Bombers were playing Carlton at the MCG.

It was the game in which scores were level and Sticks Kernahan sprayed his kick after the siren out on the full from the forward flank and the match ended in a draw.

It was also the game in which the name Dustin Fletcher appeared in the Essendon team for the first time, and for the next 22 years while players have come and gone and the Dons have fluctuated between AFL power and mediocre side, he's been the one constant in the Bombers' team.

I went back into the archives today to have a look at the Essendon team that was selected for Fletch's debut game against Carlton.

The same edition also featured a season preview of the 1993 BFL season, which shows how long Fletch has been around when considering that preview featured Northern United, Kennington and North Bendigo - three clubs all of whom are now distant BFL memories.

You got a couple of Fletch memories that stick out?

ND: Season 2000 will always be remembered as Fletcher's best, club champion in a premiership side that was beaten just once.

There have been 71 goals kicked by Fletcher, and a couple of them were against the Blues from outside 50m.

What's always amazed me and still does about Fletch is his "closing speed" and ability to get a timely fist in to spoil.

Whether it be the giants such as Lockett and Dunstall, the brilliant Gary Ablett Snr, or the goalsneaks such as Le Cras, D. Fletcher has taken them all on.

LW: As much as we marvel at the longevity of Fletch's career, what's all the more impressive is that there isn't a bad word said about him.

Also got a big weekend of local footy coming up, with three pivotal matches in the Bendigo league.

Kyneton (3-4) v Kangaroo Flat (3-4) and South Bendigo (2-5) v Castlemaine (2-5) will both be crucial contests in that fight for fifth, while further up the ladder, Golden Square (6-1) v Sandhurst (6-1) will be one of those games that will have a bearing on the top three.

Tigers, Bloods and Dragons for me in those three games.

ND: I reckon the margin will be close in all three and agree with your tips.

Will be interesting to see how the revitalised South Bendigo goes against the Magpies.

And Square is always a tough prospect at home.