WELCOME TO THE MELBOURNE FOOTBALL CLUB - BILLY STRETCH

[dee-luded 2,959]

Can we let them navigate puberty before we stake claims on them being the best f/s ever etc.

Great point dandee.

That sort of talk can not help the Kid. Only distract & put pressure on, the type no youngster would know how to deal with.

[Redleg 40,207]

Exactly wyl! We have all seen the odd similar 'incident' from current Melbourne players (no need to mention names), but I hope that they are not branded as 'soft' throughout their careers and beyond, because of one fleeting moment in the heat of battle.

We are specifically talking about him shirking one contest against Dipper in the 1988 GF. Alan Stoneham would have wished he did the same at Windy Hill where Dipper smashed his face in a disgraceful hit. Robbie Flower may have also wished he did the same in the 1987 Preliminary Final, when Dipper dislocated his shoulder, putting him out of the game and probably costing us the match and a Grand Final. If we had played in the 87 GF and lost, we would have been a better and harder side the next year and who knows.

So for one short step which avoided him possibly being carted off on a stretcher we label a great Demon, very, very, very soft. We can be harsh.

[jabberwocky 2,301]

Back in my younger less temperate days I was unable to say the name Steven Stretch without hissing and grumbling etc, however as I have matured somewhat I am able to acknowledge the great entertainment that he brought me as a player however...

Players like Stretch highlight that being able to perform on the biggest stage of all and under pressure is what is required to win flags and that your greatest flaws usually appear when under the most duress. The club needs to be extremely hard-arsed about the way it attacks it's next tilt.

Stretch and others in that game may have learnt from the experience, unfortunately football being what it is they never got another opportunity to play in a GF and redeem themselves.

[old55 22,795]

"They're my favourite team," the Year 8 Immanuel College student said.

"Because dad played there, I've loved them since I was a little kid."

What about the elephant in the room?? I hope he has more heart than his old man. Good player but very very very soft. Embarrassingly soft.

Melbourne used to be his favourite team ...

[Alf Stewart 73]

Melbourne used to be his favourite team ...

To everyone who is trying to rewrite history. Steven was a very very good player but like many players before and after he was a bit soft. Not just at the 88 gf but othe rtimes as well. I will repeat we a very vey good player and was a bit of toughness short of a champion. And to the goose who pm'd me: THANKS!

[rpfc 28,048]

To everyone who is trying to rewrite history. Steven was a very very good player but like many players before and after he was a bit soft. Not just at the 88 gf but othe rtimes as well. I will repeat we a very vey good player and was a bit of toughness short of a champion. And to the goose who pm'd me: THANKS!

So it not so much an elephant in the room?

We weren't calling him a champion.

In fact, many of us didn't even say he was a 'very, very good player' but you still felt the need to put a rider on the conversation?

It's Melbourne supporters lot in life to see things as they are and wonder "yeah, but what went wrong? What can I criticise?"

[old55 22,795]

You're welcome!

[Sir Why You Little 36,638]

To everyone who is trying to rewrite history. Steven was a very very good player but like many players before and after he was a bit soft. Not just at the 88 gf but othe rtimes as well. I will repeat we a very vey good player and was a bit of toughness short of a champion. And to the goose who pm'd me: THANKS!

If you watch any of those replays from the Northey era, Stephen Stretch often got clobbered quite hard after he had kicked the ball, in those days you could get away with blatant Thuggery!! Stretchy had a bad reputation from some, but he copped some whacks.

[H_T 3,032]

To everyone who is trying to rewrite history. Steven was a very very good player but like many players before and after he was a bit soft. Not just at the 88 gf but othe rtimes as well. I will repeat we a very vey good player and was a bit of toughness short of a champion. And to the goose who pm'd me: THANKS!

No one is re-writing history.

But I'm impressed you've taken the time to expand on your re-write. By labelling him a very, very good player.

[darkhorse72 1,856]

SS was a good player, its only commented on as it happened on the biggest stage when we got smashed, as most the game was boring, the incident stood out. I remember reading an article about it, how one incident can cloud a persons reputation, despite opposing evidence over a career.

Hope his son and all future sons are better than their dads

Love the father-son rule as part of the game, - is it unique in professional sport??

Even West Coast got their first F/S pick this year.

Its something they should now leave alone forever as its changed a lot in the last 10 years.

[pitmaster 3,446]

We are specifically talking about him shirking one contest against Dipper in the 1988 GF. Alan Stoneham would have wished he did the same at Windy Hill where Dipper smashed his face in a disgraceful hit. Robbie Flower may have also wished he did the same in the 1987 Preliminary Final, when Dipper dislocated his shoulder, putting him out of the game and probably costing us the match and a Grand Final. If we had played in the 87 GF and lost, we would have been a better and harder side the next year and who knows.

So for one short step which avoided him possibly being carted off on a stretcher we label a great Demon, very, very, very soft. We can be harsh.

Absolutely correct. As for the incident, it has been hugely overplayed.

The guy was a highly skilful attacking player who could have a big impact on a game.

Dipper was a thug, a brute and an animal who should have been muzzled and in any case would not be tolerated today.

[e25 5]

SS was a good player, its only commented on as it happened on the biggest stage when we got smashed, as most the game was boring, the incident stood out. I remember reading an article about it, how one incident can cloud a persons reputation, despite opposing evidence over a career.

Hope his son and all future sons are better than their dads

Love the father-son rule as part of the game, - is it unique in professional sport??

Even West Coast got their first F/S pick this year.

Its something they should now leave alone forever as its changed a lot in the last 10 years.

I think the bidding system has created a more fair result for all teams whilst maintaining the integrity of the Father-Son rule.

I think it is clearly one of the best aspects of our game and I can't think of any way to improve the rule.

Other sports would be jealous.

[e25 5]

Absolutely correct. As for the incident, it has been hugely overplayed.

The guy was a highly skilful attacking player who could have a big impact on a game.

Dipper was a thug, a brute and an animal who should have been muzzled and in any case would not be tolerated today.

Dipper is an exceptional bloke and one who played within the rules and standards of the day.

He was more than just a thug - his brownlow medal attests to that.

[daisycutter 29,336]

Dipper is an exceptional bloke and one who played within the rules and standards of the day.

He was more than just a thug - his brownlow medal attests to that.

Maybe, but that doesn't change the fact he was a thug. As was his mate Matthews

Both were good, courageous players who blotted their record by being thugs

[Curry & Beer 5,444]

I think the bidding system has created a more fair result for all teams whilst maintaining the integrity of the Father-Son rule.

I think it is clearly one of the best aspects of our game and I can't think of any way to improve the rule.

Other sports would be jealous.

I agree, I think the AFL realised that if the rule had stayed the way it was it could possibly resulted in the 'stars aligning' for somebody, and that club would get a few superdrafts, turning them into a force, and making a mockery of the FS system. To an extent that is what happened at the Cattery.

[Jarka 767]

Love the father-son rule as part of the game, - is it unique in professional sport??

Even West Coast got their first F/S pick this year.

Its something they should now leave alone forever as its changed a lot in the last 10 years.

From memory Ben Cousins was a f/s pickup. He actually had the choice of two clubs (perhaps even three) Eagles & Geelong.

[darkhorse72 1,856]

They weren't thugs, just didn't flinch at a contest and took the hit. The different was their body was ideal for it therefore the oppo often came off second best.

.

[e25 5]

From memory Ben Cousins was a f/s pickup. He actually had the choice of two clubs (perhaps even three) Eagles & Geelong.

He was, in 1995.

Geelong pushed hard to get him too, but he chose Perth.

[jabberwocky 2,301]

Maybe, but that doesn't change the fact he was a thug. As was his mate Matthews

Both were good, courageous players who blotted their record by being thugs

They won premierships by pushing the boundaries of the rules to their limits.

[e25 5]

They won premierships by pushing the boundaries of the rules to their limits.

I think they copped their fair share also.

Dermie and Dipper both played through horrendous injuries.

[daisycutter 29,336]

They weren't thugs, just didn't flinch at a contest and took the hit. The different was their body was ideal for it therefore the oppo often came off second best.

.

well check out how many times they were reported (even for those days)

I said they were courageous, but I'm not talking about fair physicality where others came off second best. They were both snipers

[daisycutter 29,336]

They won premierships by pushing the boundaries of the rules to their limits.

thanks for posting the obvious

and btw they went past the boundaries of the day, it was just there wasn't the technology or umpires to catch them

a thug is a thug. Oh yeah, there was plenty more of them too

[daisycutter 29,336]

I think they copped their fair share also.

Dermie and Dipper both played through horrendous injuries.

so did PLENTY of other players without being thugs

[Sir Why You Little 36,638]

He wasn't called Dipper de Thuggero for nothing in our house.

Dipper was a thug once he crossed that white line..yes he copped a lot, but only because people remembered his earlier antics.

[H_T 3,032]

I agree, I think the AFL realised that if the rule had stayed the way it was it could possibly resulted in the 'stars aligning' for somebody, and that club would get a few superdrafts, turning them into a force, and making a mockery of the FS system. To an extent that is what happened at the Cattery.

Fantasy left field suggestion: I once wondered if a club with the right *resources* further down the track might secretively put a couple of their champions through to stud with some volunteers to create an advantage by producing F/S's and exploiting the system.

Silly I know. Probably the worst suggestion I've contemplated on here. *Guilty as charged*