WELCOME TO THE MELBOURNE FOOTBALL CLUB - BILLY STRETCH

[Bitter but optimistic 22,123]

Melissa Breen. Australian 100m record holder.

The wonders of photo shop pro - or similar

[TRIGON 4,783]

How would you feel about recruiting a bloke like Keiran Jack (178cm) or Dion Prestia (175cm) or any number of gun midfielders under 6ft tall fossil? I suppose they don't fit our needs for tall, robust midfielders.

FMD even Jack Viney is only 178cm and we don't have any issues with him.

There is no bulletproof recruiting strategy. Not all tall agressive midfielders become guns. Not all midgets are spuds and neither are all slightly built guys. Nathan Fyfe is doing ok, for example.

And not every player comes on at the same rate. But that comment is frought with danger around here

And Ben McGlynn played pretty well for Sydney last Saturday night.

[monoccular 17,350]

Melissa Breen. Australian 100m record holder.

The wonders of photo shop pro - or similar

Are you suggesting that the pic may be a fraudulent tarted up shot of Cale Morton, perhaps??

[Little Goffy 14,140]

The wonders of photo shop pro - or similar

I think you'll find that she really is "totes legit buff as".

She's fairly short, about the same height and weight as Jay Kennedy-Harris, which is incredible considering her sport and the total absence of skinfolds. But I imagine with a couple of pre-seasons done she could add a few kilos, reshape a bit to suit footy, and offer a really good small forward option. Worth a rookie list spot.

[nutbean 8,838]

I think you'll find that she really is "totes legit buff as".

She's fairly short, about the same height and weight as Jay Kennedy-Harris, which is incredible considering her sport and the total absence of skinfolds. But I imagine with a couple of pre-seasons done she could add a few kilos, reshape a bit to suit footy, and offer a really good small forward option. Worth a rookie list spot.

Can you keep us abreast of her progress please ?

[whatwhat say what 22,312]

didn't make the final, but i don't think that's what you meant...

[ijbfossil 77]

Now you are talking Nutbean - forget Jacqi Lambie.

Watched Billy Stretch in the National U18 Championships - loads of talent - is he big/tall enough to match up against the likes of the Freo midfield??? I don't know??

[daisycutter 29,436]

Now you are talking Nutbean - forget Jacqi Lambie.

Watched Billy Stretch in the National U18 Championships - loads of talent - is he big/tall enough to match up against the likes of the Freo midfield??? I don't know??

is sam mitchell or boomer harvey?

[dazzledavey36 53,328]

Now you are talking Nutbean - forget Jacqi Lambie.

Watched Billy Stretch in the National U18 Championships - loads of talent - is he big/tall enough to match up against the likes of the Freo midfield??? I don't know??

What a stupid analysis. Your starting to sound like Picket Fence.

FMD

[Ted Lasso 18,914]

Now you are talking Nutbean - forget Jacqi Lambie.

Watched Billy Stretch in the National U18 Championships - loads of talent - is he big/tall enough to match up against the likes of the Freo midfield??? I don't know??

He doesn't need to be a big bodied inside midfielder because he's an outside player, his pace, speed, class are all things we are desperately lacking and he's most likely only going to cost a third round pick, it's a no brainer really.

[Machsy 2,858]

is sam mitchell or boomer harvey?

Is Brad Hill?

[ijbfossil 77]

Thanks for all the compliments.

I just reckon the Demons have too many midget midfielders on the list.

Boomer and Mitchell are sensational - but they are special talents that don't come along very often. Dom Tyson taller - the success story of the Dees year.

Fyfe tonight - fantastic - can take high marks and in the forward line. Barlow a big man. That is what I am getting at.

[Pennant St Dee 12,810]

Thanks for all the compliments.

I just reckon the Demons have too many midget midfielders on the list.

Boomer and Mitchell are sensational - but they are special talents that don't come along very often. Dom Tyson taller - the success story of the Dees year.

Fyfe tonight - fantastic - can take high marks and in the forward line. Barlow a big man. That is what I am getting at.

Fossil from what I've seen of Billy very smooth and don't think he needs to be a match for Fyfe, Barlow, Mundy, Josh Kennedy etc. I see Billy as more outside in the mould of the Hill brothers, Isaac Smith type

[daisycutter 29,436]

Thanks for all the compliments.

I just reckon the Demons have too many midget midfielders on the list.

Boomer and Mitchell are sensational - but they are special talents that don't come along very often. Dom Tyson taller - the success story of the Dees year.

Fyfe tonight - fantastic - can take high marks and in the forward line. Barlow a big man. That is what I am getting at.

no-one would deny that good, big, tall midfielders are desirable, but they don't necessarily grow on trees

but the point is that you don't have to be a tall midfielder to be a good midfielder

and as others have pointed out being big and tall is less critical for an outside mid

there is still plenty of scope in our game for midfielders of varying stature as long as they have good other desired attributes

to eliminate someone as a midfielder because he is not 90kg or 187cm is stupid

[dazzledavey36 53,328]

Its funny how people have this big love of obsession for big midfielders etc.. Freo who are noted for them haven't won a flag with them yet.

Hawthorn won the flag last year with Mitchell 178cm Hill 182cm Sewell 181cm Shiels 183cm Rioli 177cm and a Puopolo 173cm all running through the midfield.

They have Hodge and Lewis who are both 186cm tall and weigh 90 kg.. and thats it

Look at Syndey the year they won the flag. Kennedy of course is a big bodied midfielder but Jack, Hannerbery, Jetta and Mcviegh are all under 183 cm tall.

We have Tyson Vince Cross Mckenzie Michie Trengove who are all avarage height at about 186cm tall.

Its an obsession thats getting a bit out of hand. Go for the best midfielder regardless of heigh.

[rjay 24,679]

Its funny how people have this big love of obsession for big midfielders etc.. Freo who are noted for them haven't won a flag with them yet.

Hawthorn won the flag last year with Mitchell 178cm Hill 182cm Sewell 181cm Shiels 183cm Rioli 177cm and a Puopolo 173cm all running through the midfield.

They have Hodge and Lewis who are both 186cm tall and weigh 90 kg.. and thats it

Look at Syndey the year they won the flag. Kennedy of course is a big bodied midfielder but Jack, Hannerbery, Jetta and Mcviegh are all under 183 cm tall.

We have Tyson Vince Cross Mckenzie Michie Trengove who are all avarage height at about 186cm tall.

Its an obsession thats getting a bit out of hand. Go for the best midfielder regardless of heigh.

That's a really good point and well backed up 'dazzle'.

[Ted Lasso 18,914]

Its funny how people have this big love of obsession for big midfielders etc.. Freo who are noted for them haven't won a flag with them yet.

Hawthorn won the flag last year with Mitchell 178cm Hill 182cm Sewell 181cm Shiels 183cm Rioli 177cm and a Puopolo 173cm all running through the midfield.

They have Hodge and Lewis who are both 186cm tall and weigh 90 kg.. and thats it

Look at Syndey the year they won the flag. Kennedy of course is a big bodied midfielder but Jack, Hannerbery, Jetta and Mcviegh are all under 183 cm tall.

We have Tyson Vince Cross Mckenzie Michie Trengove who are all avarage height at about 186cm tall.

Its an obsession thats getting a bit out of hand. Go for the best midfielder regardless of heigh.

Gary ablett, imo the best midfielder of all time isn't tall.

[Its Time for Another 4,088]

Its funny how people have this big love of obsession for big midfielders etc.. Freo who are noted for them haven't won a flag with them yet.

Hawthorn won the flag last year with Mitchell 178cm Hill 182cm Sewell 181cm Shiels 183cm Rioli 177cm and a Puopolo 173cm all running through the midfield.

They have Hodge and Lewis who are both 186cm tall and weigh 90 kg.. and thats it

Look at Syndey the year they won the flag. Kennedy of course is a big bodied midfielder but Jack, Hannerbery, Jetta and Mcviegh are all under 183 cm tall.

We have Tyson Vince Cross Mckenzie Michie Trengove who are all avarage height at about 186cm tall.

Its an obsession thats getting a bit out of hand. Go for the best midfielder regardless of heigh.

I've been waiting for someone to make this much sense on this issue for a while. Mind you Roosy is one of the one's who is saying Freo's tall midfield is the benchmark now. I find that strange given the Swan's very short midfield that is being raved about as the best in the business.

Then again there are two things you are either born with or just don't have. Height and Speed. Combine them in the one package and you get a C Judd 189cm, (Freak) and a few others including some of the Freo boys. A very rare commodity. You usually get one or the other but not both combined with agility.

[daisycutter 29,436]

I've been waiting for someone to make this much sense on this issue for a while. Mind you Roosy is one of the one's who is saying Freo's tall midfield is the benchmark now. I find that strange given the Swan's very short midfield that is being raved about as the best in the business.

Then again there are two things you are either born with or just don't have. Height and Speed. Combine them in the one package and you get a C Judd 189cm, (Freak) and a few others including some of the Freo boys. A very rare commodity. You usually get one or the other but not both combined with agility.

well learn something every day. judd is 189cm (6'3") . didn't seem right so i checked and you are spot on, thanks

surprised he doesn't take more marks

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

That's one of the better sources I've heard around here in a while.

You might as well have said you heard it from Judd's grandmother and you would have had the same credibility.

Don't give up on Judd coming to Melbourne, he did support the club as a kid after all.

[rjay 24,679]

well learn something every day. judd is 189cm (6'3") . didn't seem right so i checked and you are spot on, thanks

surprised he doesn't take more marks

With his shoulder injury he has struggled to get his arms up over his head. He's taken a few more marks in recent times, must be feeling a bit more confident or just going for broke till the end of career comes.

[Its Time for Another 4,088]

well learn something every day. judd is 189cm (6'3") . didn't seem right so i checked and you are spot on, thanks

surprised he doesn't take more marks

Yeh, I had the same reaction when I first found this out. Interesting comparison is that Dermott Brereton is also 189cm. Funnily enough I always thought he was a better CHF than G Lyon because Lyon was too short for the position compared to Brereton. Lyon is 193. So, so much for that theory. I thought it would be more the other way round. Just out of interest that short ass run with player Cameron Ling, is wait for it, 189cm. Wouldn't have picked that either. And that short arse forward pocket Stevie Johnston. You guessed 189cm. I've started checking heights of players a lot more nowadays.

[ManDee 7,124]

Yeh, I had the same reaction when I first found this out. Interesting comparison is that Dermott Brereton is also 189cm. Funnily enough I always thought he was a better CHF than G Lyon because Lyon was too short for the position compared to Brereton. Lyon is 193. So, so much for that theory. I thought it would be more the other way round. Just out of interest that short ass run with player Cameron Ling, is wait for it, 189cm. Wouldn't have picked that either. And that short arse forward pocket Stevie Johnston. You guessed 189cm. I've started checking heights of players a lot more nowadays.

My experience is that many of the listed heights are wrong. I am 184cm I am the same height as Judd

I reckon heights are measured with boots on standing on a brick!

Edit: John Nichols was also 189!

Edited August 1, 2014 by ManDee

[Its Time for Another 4,088]

My experience is that many of the listed heights are wrong. I am 184cm I am the same height as Judd

I reckon heights are measured with boots on standing on a brick!

Edit: John Nichols was also 189!

Maybe you are the same height as him when you are in boots standing on bricks.

I always thought the urban myth about Nichols was that he was 6' tall but was interested to see he was 189 not such a terrible height for a ruckman in that era. Mind you Len Thompson was 200cm's. We have a 16yr old playing for our junior team who is 203cm. Times they are a changing.

[Little Goffy 14,140]

Bate v Koutafides.

Pendlebury v Gysberts.

Mitchell v Valenti.

Morton v Fyfe.

Height and weight profiles definitely do not decide a player's future.

Select on skill, athleticism, awareness, work ethic, all these things. With a little luck you'll end up with a good mix of bodies to keep the variety of options open.