DUSTIN Fletcher continues to push for a farewell game, with the 40-year-old hopeful of overcoming his groin injury to be fit for Essendon's final match of the season. 

The veteran defender hasn't played since he became only the third player in VFL/AFL history to reach the 400-game milestone in round nine against Richmond.

He will not be fit to take on the Tigers this Saturday night at the MCG, but is striving to line up against Collingwood in round 23.

"I have been doing a fair bit of training but we'll just have to wait and see," Fletcher said on Tuesday.

"It is a bit of groin soreness. It started just in the adductors and it moved up to above the pubis and has a bit to do with the stomach muscles as well.

"It's one I haven't shaken, and over a long period of time before that I've gotten over these things pretty quickly.

"I can still run and still move, and believe it or not, I actually went and did an eight-kilometre run and didn't feel too bad." 

Fletcher did not confirm he would retire at the end of the season, but is expected to make the call next week as to his future.

The two-time premiership winner acknowledged it had been a difficult season with the club, culminating in the exit of his coach and former captain James Hird last week.

Fletcher thanked Hird for supporting him at the end of last year in playing on in 2015, allowing the backman to reach the 400-game milestone when many believed he should retire.

"When I sat down about playing another year and maybe reaching 400 [games], 'Hirdy' was the man that said 'Yep, I think you can do it'," Fletcher said.

"There might have been a few other people that said 'No, he's done'. But Hirdy stood up for me and let me have a crack at playing 400 games and another year of football at Essendon, which has been such a great club to me."