Essendon champion Dustin Fletcher believes he has at least another year to offer the club he's served since debuting as a schoolboy way back in 1993.

The 33-year-old dual-premiership player, whose current agreement expires at the end of this season, said a new deal through to the end of 2009 would just about see him out.

"I reckon I can play next year but … I wouldn’t be going too far after that," Fletcher said at Windy Hill on Tuesday.

"My body's feeling pretty good at the moment, but when you get into your 30s you just keep going."

"I still enjoy the game. Mentally I think I'm still with it and physically I'm not too bad as well, but next year will nearly be it, I reckon."

A 12-month extension, Fletcher argues, would fit in nicely with the development of younger defenders at the club, including Tayte Pears, Scott Gumbleton and Paddy Ryder.

"I wouldn't want to stand in the way of a few of those kids," he said.

"I just feel it's up to me to help the younger guys because you want to see the club going the right way and heading back up there, that's where I see what I'll be doing next year."

On the eve of his 288th AFL match against the Blues on Sunday which will set a new record for the most games by a father/son combination, surpassing the 551 achieved by Carlton's Stephen and Sergio Silvagni, Fletcher paid tribute to his father Ken who played 264 games for the Bombers between 1967 and 1980.

"Dad's pretty excited and to have me get the record means a fair bit to him," Fletcher said.

"He still enjoys and loves his footy, he still coaches his school side so he's pretty busy with that, but he'll be around on Sunday."

"You look at some of the names, the Silvagnis … and the Tucks and the Whittens, some big names there and to be recognised with your name continuing on is a pretty big thing."

"When your career is all done and dusted and your kids are up and coming, it will be good to have the Fletcher name still up there."

Asked to explain his longevity, Fletcher said being able to keep pace with the game was probably the No.1 factor, though staying relatively injury-free and being able to hide away deep in defence were important also.

He did say, however, that changes to the rules over the