WELCOME TO THE MELBOURNE FOOTBALL CLUB - BILLY STRETCH

[Left Field 313]

Looks pretty good. How old is he now?

[Young Dee 1,302]

Full time:

24 touches, 7 marks, 2 tackles, 5 inside 50's, 1 goal and 3rd most Dreamteam points (for team)

Good effort!

Edited October 6, 2013 by Young Dee

[Demon_Tingles 211]

Just finished watching this I must say for the first time I have seen him, he impressed me. Light build but very evasive, quick steps helps him get away. Not like some of our mids who look like they have concrete in their boots. Nice disposal and courageous too. Dazzle is on target with comparing him to Hill. Very similar types of player.

[RalphiusMaximus 5,993]

Nice little player. I loved the three on one he won after an opposition kick-out. Attacked the ball with pace, took it cleanly and had time to look at his options before deciding to take it out of bounds.

[DeeSpencer 23,127]

24 touches and a goal without a clearance is pretty good work. Shows he knows how to win the ball outside and get involved in play. And you don't want him mixing it inside too much with bigger bodies. Another preseason and a little more bulk without pushing him too hard and he'll add to that side of his game at league level and I'm sure will do very well against his own age.

I wonder if their are any plans to maybe get him down to AAMI park in the preseason... or even more controversially send him to boarding school in Melbourne and let him have a Jesse Hogan/Jack Viney type year in Melbourne. If Hoges and Toumpy move out he could actually move in with the Vineys at our football factory.

[Earl Hood 5,789]

Great news about young Stretchy. Father son may be our only hope to break through to success given everything else that has been stacked up against us in the last 10 years. Geelong has made father son an artwork but still claimed it is all about their coaching and development. Well yes but gee the genes go a long way to success as well you know. Lets face it you could not have stopped Gary Abletts developed, no matter haw hard you tried.

[whatwhat say what 18,919]

Not sure that's true.

Jesus was an average footballer as a kid who didn't appear that interested, and it was the football development and coaching - not to mention the hard word put on him by another father-son, Matthew Scarlett - that turned him into one of the best players the game has ever seen.

[Webber 10,041]

The way you guys are talking about him, sounds like you think he's a definite to be taken with father/son?

[Gorgoroth 12,319]

We will, I reckon we could get him for a third rounder, as I think he would go mid to late 20's next year.

[rhaz 342]

The way you guys are talking about him, sounds like you think he's a definite to be taken with father/son?

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl/melbourne-football-club-in-talks-with-the-son-of-steven-stretch/story-e6freckc-1226633208382

Joining the Demons would be the realisation of a dream for Melbourne-born Billy.

He has supported the club since soon after he was born and regularly attended home games at the MCG as a toddler in the late 1990s.

"Dad has always kept involved with Melbourne and that influenced me and who I supported," Billy said.

"Every now and then we'd chuck some of dad's highlights videos on and see a lot of old players like Jim Stynes, Robbie Flower and Garry Lyon running around.

"(Playing for Melbourne) has always been my dream.

[Machsy 2,856]

I don't know if 2014 having a strong/deep draft helps or hinders us in our attempt to recruit Stretch.

On one hand, a strong draft may mean other clubs have their eyes on other perceived better players, at the pick they'd have to bid to force us to use our 1st rounder on Billy, making them reluctant and possibly increasing our chances of securing him with a 2nd round pick or later, giving us a clear advantage.

On the other hand, it may be clear to other clubs that we are committed to taking him, and they will take a relatively low-risk gamble, bidding and forcing us into using an earlier pick than we'd like, when the abundance of talent at later picks means having a father-son prospect offers no real advantage.

Having said all that, I've no idea where Stretch will be ranked amongst the talent on other.

I've heard it's deep, but haven't seen a lot of names.

Clem Smith looked a gem playing underage for WA. Can't remember many others.

[old55 21,297]

I'm willing to predict our 1st rounder will be early in 2014 so only a very few clubs will be able to force us to use it.

[Machsy 2,856]

I... hope... so?

No, that's not right...

[Dr. Gonzo 22,415]

I'm willing to predict our 1st rounder will be early in 2014 so only a very few clubs will be able to force us to use it.

I think the issue is more that we could be forced into using our second round pick (late teens/early 20's) when really we should be using a pick in the 40's or later?

[spirit of norm smith 12,906]

likely use pick 20 ish on Billy Stretch - assuming we finish 2014 like 2013 (but with 5-6 wins and not 2).

Others will look at pick 25-30 bid IMO. This kid is good.

[What 18,810]

young talented player coming through that already wants to play for the Dees

so awesome to see

If we ever got to the stage where father-son propects were saying they want to try their luck in the draft instaed of come to the MFC, then we can start to panic

Right now things arent so bad and will only get better

[Whispering_Jack 27,971]

I don't know if it's been mentioned here or elsewhere but Billy has been included in the prestigious 2013/4 AIS/AFL Academy Squad along with a number of other highly youngsters who will no doubt figure predominantly in draft calculations next year.

In addition, he's been included in Bigfooty on Knightmare's 2014 Power Rankings in tenth place.

Here's his top 10 and get used to the names which will appear in phantom drafts in the not to distant future.

1. Peter Wright (VIC - KPF/Ruck)

2. Patrick McCartin (VIC - KPF)

3. Jarrod Pickett (WA - Fwd)

4. Alec Waterman (WCE WA - Mid - F/S)

5. Peter Bampton (SA Mid)

6. Jake Lever (VIC - Def)

7. Hugh Goddard (VIC - KPF)

8. Clem Smith (WA - Util)

9. Christian Petracca (VIC - Fwd)

10. Billy Stretch (Melb SA - F/S)

[Hannibal 5,814]

I don't know if it's been mentioned here or elsewhere but Billy has been included in the prestigious 2013/4 AIS/AFL Academy Squad along with a number of other highly youngsters who will no doubt figure predominantly in draft calculations next year.

In addition, he's been included in Bigfooty on Knightmare's 2014 Power Rankings in tenth place.

Here's his top 10 and get used to the names which will appear in phantom drafts in the not to distant future.

1. Peter Wright (VIC - KPF/Ruck)

2. Patrick McCartin (VIC - KPF)

3. Jarrod Pickett (WA - Fwd)

4. Alec Waterman (WCE WA - Mid - F/S)

5. Peter Bampton (SA Mid)

6. Jake Lever (VIC - Def)

7. Hugh Goddard (VIC - KPF)

8. Clem Smith (WA - Util)

9. Christian Petracca (VIC - Fwd)

10. Billy Stretch (Melb SA - F/S)

From the hype on Hughie G I'm surprised he's not higher.

[Jarka 767]

We're in a pretty good spot for next year, it's a pretty good year for key forwards and with stretch most likely going a 2nd rounder we'll probably be able to pick up another quality midfielder with our first round. That is of course unless we win the premiership, which case we'll have to use our first pick on him.

[rjay 23,906]

From the hype on Hughie G I'm surprised he's not higher.

He looks good 'Ben' but played as a key back the games I watched. McCartin will be the one to watch though, similar traits to Hogan.

[mjt 640]

I don't know if it's been mentioned here or elsewhere but Billy has been included in the prestigious 2013/4 AIS/AFL Academy Squad along with a number of other highly youngsters who will no doubt figure predominantly in draft calculations next year.

In addition, he's been included in Bigfooty on Knightmare's 2014 Power Rankings in tenth place.

Here's his top 10 and get used to the names which will appear in phantom drafts in the not to distant future.

1. Peter Wright (VIC - KPF/Ruck)

2. Patrick McCartin (VIC - KPF)

3. Jarrod Pickett (WA - Fwd)

4. Alec Waterman (WCE WA - Mid - F/S)

5. Peter Bampton (SA Mid)

6. Jake Lever (VIC - Def)

7. Hugh Goddard (VIC - KPF)

8. Clem Smith (WA - Util)

9. Christian Petracca (VIC - Fwd)

10. Billy Stretch (Melb SA - F/S)

Its amazing that Knightmare hasn't landed a job as an AFL recruiter, everyone seems to rate his posts, on a serious note hopefully young Billy's good enough and his dream comes true.

[Moonshadow 16,168]

young talented player coming through that already wants to play for the Dees

so awesome to see

If we ever got to the stage where father-son propects were saying they want to try their luck in the draft instaed of come to the MFC, then we can start to panic

Right now things arent so bad and will only get better

If my memory serves me correctly, Marc Murphy turned his back on Bris as a F/S to go in the draft to Carlton (and a big paper bag stuffed with $ no doubt). Has anyone else done this?

[ThreeOneSix 953]

If my memory serves me correctly, Marc Murphy turned his back on Bris as a F/S to go in the draft to Carlton (and a big paper bag stuffed with $ no doubt). Has anyone else done this?

Joe Daniher turned his back on the Swans and I bet he kicks himself every day.

What a move, lol.

[monoccular 16,065]

All very feel "to have a dream" but he needs to fill a need at the right price - harsh but true. No room for sentimentality and "dreams".

[Redleg 37,578]

All very feel "to have a dream" but he needs to fill a need at the right price - harsh but true. No room for sentimentality and "dreams".

I think the Dees will make it known, if another club bids too high a pirce, he is theirs.

Then of course, two years later he may want to leave a club that stopped him getting to the Dees.