WELCOME TO THE MELBOURNE FOOTBALL CLUB - BILLY STRETCH

[Bring-Back-Powell 13,127]

13 hours ago, Clint Bizkit said:

Early contender for worst post of the year.

Agree, it was an absolute Barry Crocker of a post.

[dazzledavey36 48,705]

So the question is did Healey actually say Billy STRETCH or Billy SMEDTS?

[Bossdog 2,002]

1 hour ago, dazzledavey36 said:

So the question is did Healey actually say Billy STRETCH or Billy SMEDTS?

Who cares.......As long as it is not Stretch

[nutbean 8,837]

1 hour ago, dazzledavey36 said:

So the question is did Healey actually say Billy STRETCH or Billy SMEDTS?

we really need a "tongue in cheek" emoticon.

Let's just all agree that Gerard Healy is a goose

[binman 37,924]

22 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

So the question is did Healey actually say Billy STRETCH or Billy SMEDTS?

I can confirm he most definetly said Smedts. To be fair immediately prior they had talked about tracs injury. 

 

By the by i quite like healy on the radio.

[Bitter but optimistic 21,234]

On 7/1/2016 at 10:53 PM, Clint Bizkit said:

Early contender for worst post of the year.

Nah!! I'll beat that.

[FireInTheBennelly 4,024]

On 09/01/2016 at 7:15 AM, Bitter but optimistic said:

Nah!! I'll beat that.

Surely you're no longer eligible, after winning the last 10 years in a row

[Slartibartfast 15,757]

On 21/11/2015 at 11:25 AM, Baghdad Bob said:

After a long and exhaustive consideration of this issue I've decided Billy Stretch is going to be my favourite player this year (which really hurts cos I love Jack Viney) so he is the one.

Uses the ball so well, works really hard and has been a passionate Demon supporter for life. He's living the dream. Ripping bloke, no tickets on himself, popular and respected amongst the playing group and coaches.

Get the ball 20 to 25 times a game Billy and you'll write your own history.

I'm calling it now and I'm calling it early.

Billy will sit comfortably alongside Oliver, Hogan, Viney, Gawn and Petracca as our most valuable players in the next few years.

Ran all day, got it 31 times, disposal and decision making were excellent, doesn't fumble, is developing an inside game, has the character to ensure he'll get the most out of himself and is the son of a great gun.  All that in a 19 year old and our fifth youngest player.  We've a lot to look forward to and Billy will be a bigger part than most here and everyone outside think.

 

That is all.

[ArtificialWisdom 3,848]

6 minutes ago, Baghdad Bob said:

I'm calling it now and I'm calling it early.

Billy will sit comfortably alongside Oliver, Hogan, Viney, Gawn and Petracca as our most valuable players in the next few years.

Ran all day, got it 31 times, disposal and decision making were excellent, doesn't fumble, is developing an inside game, has the character to ensure he'll get the most out of himself and is the son of a great gun.  All that in a 19 year old and our fifth youngest player.  We've a lot to look forward to and Billy will be a bigger part than most here and everyone outside think.

 

That is all.

I had faith he would get there but i thought he was 2-3 years away from a game like his last 2. Hopefully he can continue to back them up with more solid performances. We desperatly needed a run and carry player and now we have him. Hunt as well has shown it in patches.

[dazzledavey36 48,705]

Always been a fan of Stretch when i saw him dominate a reserves grand final as a 16 year for Glenelg. Ran all day and showed real class. Made the comparison to Steele Sidebottom.

His development this year has been through the roof. So clean with the ball and rarely wastes it.

Looming as a very important member of our best 22.

[Deeoldfart 7,720]

I always had confidence that Billy would, at the very least, become a good long-term 'foot-soldier' for us.  However, I never dreamed that he would 'come of age' as quickly as it seems to be happening, and I'm thrilled that I might have to revise the 'foot-soldier' classification as well ......... maybe an Isaac Smith type asset.

[mo64 5,209]

50 minutes ago, Baghdad Bob said:

I'm calling it now and I'm calling it early.

Billy will sit comfortably alongside Oliver, Hogan, Viney, Gawn and Petracca as our most valuable players in the next few years.

Ran all day, got it 31 times, disposal and decision making were excellent, doesn't fumble, is developing an inside game, has the character to ensure he'll get the most out of himself and is the son of a great gun.  All that in a 19 year old and our fifth youngest player.  We've a lot to look forward to and Billy will be a bigger part than most here and everyone outside think.

 

That is all.

Great call BB. At times, posters get obsessed by a players' draft position. Billy has received little fanfare, but hasn't made too many mistakes in the games he's played. I was disappointed when he was in and out of the side in the early rounds because I don't think he did much wrong. He's come back in and elevated his game to a whole new level. I actually thought he was a clear BOG on Sunday. The first of many I think.

[AzzKikA 2,369]

Fantastic game on Sunday.

Always have liked Billy, when he first started was very raw but i think a long block of senior games, and against quality competition will do wonders for his development.   He seems to be doing a lot of work in the gym too, very sculpted.

 

[old55 21,256]

3 minutes ago, mo64 said:

 I actually thought he was a clear BOG on Sunday. The first of many I think.

Looking forward to seeing the coaches award votes this week (and every week).  That's the KPI for me.

[chook fowler 18,206]

Very balanced, poised and knows how to use the ball. Now not afraid to tackle and get his own ball. Becoming the complete package.

[Willmoy1947 3,769]

Yep he was up there Sunday. For me it was two things. Firstly seems to blend in with the team, with position,linking and speed. secondly really calm reliable kicking for goal,

great asset on forward line

[binman 37,924]

1 hour ago, Baghdad Bob said:

I'm calling it now and I'm calling it early.

Billy will sit comfortably alongside Oliver, Hogan, Viney, Gawn and Petracca as our most valuable players in the next few years.

Ran all day, got it 31 times, disposal and decision making were excellent, doesn't fumble, is developing an inside game, has the character to ensure he'll get the most out of himself and is the son of a great gun.  All that in a 19 year old and our fifth youngest player.  We've a lot to look forward to and Billy will be a bigger part than most here and everyone outside think.

 

That is all.

You make a good case bob. Im not quite as bullish but i hope you are proven correct. 

What i really like is his neat, accurate kicking. Wastes very few possessions, a talent that has always been important but is even more so now with how critical it is in forward thrusts and avoiding turnovers

[Davos 734]

Here's to hoping that he can become to us what Lachie Hunter is to the Bulldogs.

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

Stretch's first few steps with the ball are always very quick which creates space and allows him to have an extra second or so to use the ball well, I love it.

[Gorgoroth 12,308]

Another clean user of the ball. He was always decent but needed to be more involved.  Now he is, he is shining. 

[Cards13 9,117]

He is learning to "stay in the game longer" and will be a real asset if he can keep this up for longer periods of time as he always seems to influence when he has the ball.

[Guest]

Is he still eligible for the Rising Star?

[Binmans PA 25,980]

3 hours ago, Baghdad Bob said:

I'm calling it now and I'm calling it early.

Billy will sit comfortably alongside Oliver, Hogan, Viney, Gawn and Petracca as our most valuable players in the next few years.

Ran all day, got it 31 times, disposal and decision making were excellent, doesn't fumble, is developing an inside game, has the character to ensure he'll get the most out of himself and is the son of a great gun.  All that in a 19 year old and our fifth youngest player.  We've a lot to look forward to and Billy will be a bigger part than most here and everyone outside think.

That is all.

It's interesting, because I felt although he got it a lot the previous week, he turned it over quite a bit. But his game against Brisbane was brilliant. Obviously, the Bulldogs game provided him with a lot of confidence. I love how our FD is coaching our kids and even our older blokes (ie. look at Jetta's turn around - he is a Paul Roos special). They clearly really back our players and a lot of that is reflected in the philospohy of Paul Roos himself - give them continuity of games and they'll slowly chip away and their deficiencies.

For a guy in just his second year, yesterday was a super exciting display from Billy. I hope he can back it up next week. 

[mdemon 266]

Very steady and composed when required - impressive over the past 2 weeks.

His speed and endurance will be important in Alice Springs.

P.S. Did his Dad ever get 31 possessions in a game?

[Left Foot Snap 1,875]

I have always been very hopeful on Stretch as I was a fan of Steven. He was a West Torrens boy and growing up you didn't get a lot to cheer about with them. I remember when the 'great exodus' of SA players went to Victorian clubs at the time - Steven Stretch was voted least likely to make it. I was delighted he did. In a way following him is what fired my interest in following the Dees. Before that it was really just interest because I played junior footy in the same jumper. Now I have a family cohort of rabid members, albeit in Brisbane so we can't get to see games live. My daughter (12 yr old and a massive Nathan Jones and Daisy Pearce fan) came up with the name T-Rex for Billy. (Little stretch) There were many T-Rex calls and high fives coming from the TV room on Sunday and I hope that continues.