It would be a magical moment if Essendon could have a 400-game AFL player.

But it shouldn’t be at the expense of a younger man who has earned an opportunity, and it shouldn’t come if 393-game veteran Dustin Fletcher only has seven or eight games left in his tank.

Essendon coach Mark Thompson says he’s confident 39-year-old Fletcher will make the right call.

Fletcher had season-ending finger surgery earlier this week and faces a tough decision regarding whether he wants to play on in 2015 in a bid to join Hawthorn’s Michael Tuck and Richmond’s Kevin Bartlett in the 400-club.

Thompson said on Friday he was disappointed with 20-year-old key forward Joe Daniher, who put his hand up to play last week in his return from a collarbone injury but had a poor game against Richmond.

“You’d hate to think Dustin would make a decision based on himself for himself over the team, similar to the Joe Daniher decision,” Thompson told reporters.

“If you play a game or you play a whole season, you’ve got to be ready for that season and know that you’re going to help the club.

“If he’s doing it for the wrong reasons then that would be wrong.

“But I’m sure he’s not. He’s a quality person.

“There’s two people who have played 400.

“It would be magical that Essendon could have one of those players join that club.

“If it’s too hard or it doesn’t help us win games or anything, you shouldn’t sacrifice other people’s opportunities.

“The fans want to see the team win.

“Dustin has to make the decision based on how he’s feeling, what he wants to do and whether he’s going to help the team.”

Thompson, who is interim coach on a one-season deal during senior coach James Hird’s suspension over the club’s 2012 supplements program, says he doesn’t expect the Bombers will seek an urgent decision from Fletcher.

“As long as he wants. I don’t think they’ll be putting too much pressure on Dustin,” Thompson said.