Jump to content

Billy Stretch Appreciation Thread

dazzledavey36
dazzledavey36
in Melbourne Demons

Featured Replies

He has 4 attributes that are in demand, pace, disposal skill, work ethic and a footy brain. 

  • Quote
    • Like 6
     

    He complements our other mids so well. Has what we lack in very neat kicking skills and line breaking despite not being lightning quick. As soon as he kicked the ball in the 4th I knew it would be a goal, there are only 2 other players on the list (Watts, Salem) that I would have had the same confidence with right then. Has slipped under the radar a bit but has contributed just as much as our other young more fancied players. Also quite tough for such a slight player, should be very important going forward.

  • Quote

    Quick and skillful outsider who's happy to go when it's his turn. He's had a terrific year and only turns 20 this week I believe.

    I reckon that goal he kicked on the weekend will end up being a pretty famous Melbourne goal.

  • Quote
    • Like 1
     
    1 hour ago, Redleg said:

    He has 4 attributes that are in demand, pace, disposal skill, work ethic and a footy brain. 

    And elite agility....has the quickest feet in the side bar Garlett.

  • Quote

    13 hours ago, Rogue said:

    I think that's crazy talk - there'd be 15+ guys I'd reel off before Strech even entered the conversation. He's showed some good signs though and I'm interested to see where he's at in two years time. I think the competition for spots in our best team will be fierce.

    We are not that far off Rogue. You're saying he is about 15th I'm saying roughly top 10 already. Emphasis on rough as he is so young in his career/development there are going to be a few off matches. Although that's no diff to others on similar game experience I realise.

  • Quote

    Does a lot right and I really value that despite being predominately an outside player, he can get his own ball at times.  Must build some strength over the coming off season though because he doesn't stick anywhere near as many tackles as he could.

  • Quote
    1 hour ago, Ricky P said:

    Quick and skillful outsider who's happy to go when it's his turn. He's had a terrific year and only turns 20 this week I believe.

    I reckon that goal he kicked on the weekend will end up being a pretty famous Melbourne goal.

    The goal he kicked against Geelong last year was pretty good.

  • Quote
    •  
    3 hours ago, Mach5 said:

    Add in Salem...

    Is Salem that fast? I would have thought he breaks lines but in a different way; with his evasiveness and foot skills...

  • Quote
    1 hour ago, S_T said:

    Does a lot right and I really value that despite being predominately an outside player, he can get his own ball at times.  Must build some strength over the coming off season though because he doesn't stick anywhere near as many tackles as he could.

    If had have taken Gibson to ground in that tackle we would be going delerious on here. That was a pretty critical time in the game.

     

  • Quote

    2 minutes ago, jnrmac said:

    If had have taken Gibson to ground in that tackle we would be going delerious on here. That was a pretty critical time in the game.

     

    yes, but remember he is still just 19. he has plenty of time to perfect his tackling skills. he already doesn't lack in aggression when he needs to, so i wouldn't at all be worried about his current level of tackling ability. his development to date has been impressive and shows no signs of tailing off. he's a gem.

  • Quote
    1 hour ago, mo64 said:

    The goal he kicked against Geelong last year was pretty good.

    Yeah, I was right behind that one. You can just see my and my mates going nuts at the back of the Gary Ablett terrace as it sails through.

  • Quote
    38 minutes ago, daisycutter said:

    yes, but remember he is still just 19. he has plenty of time to perfect his tackling skills. he already doesn't lack in aggression when he needs to, so i wouldn't at all be worried about his current level of tackling ability. his development to date has been impressive and shows no signs of tailing off. he's a gem.

    That was a good effort from stretcher - did his best - but Gibbo's 20 extra kgs and 13 extra pre-seasons held him in good stead. 

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    2 hours ago, Ricky P said:

    Quick and skillful outsider who's happy to go when it's his turn. He's had a terrific year and only turns 20 this week I believe.

    I reckon that goal he kicked on the weekend will end up being a pretty famous Melbourne goal.

    It was pretty huge and really gave them the belief that they could be headed late and get themselves back in front.

  • Quote
    • Like 1

    Playing so well for his age. Well done son. 

    This team has oodles of talent.

  • Quote
    • Like 2

    1 hour ago, daisycutter said:

    yes, but remember he is still just 19. he has plenty of time to perfect his tackling skills. he already doesn't lack in aggression when he needs to, so i wouldn't at all be worried about his current level of tackling ability. his development to date has been impressive and shows no signs of tailing off. he's a gem.

    I wasn't being critical. I thought it was a good effort. Just surmising if he had have taken Gibson down how fantastic that would have been.

  • Quote
    • Like 2

    At 19 years old Billy does very little wrong. Has exceeded all expectations thus far and is exactly the type of player our list needed. With the development department purring along beautifully Billy could be anything 

  • Quote
    • Like 2
    On 8/1/2016 at 9:49 PM, titan_uranus said:

    He has one of modern football's most important traits - good running skills. He runs all day, he runs to the right spots, and he has pace. He can kick at full burst, too, also important.

    Really happy with his development this year. 

    Agree, terrifc runner. and not only can he kick well when running he really gives it a roost. His kick to Watts against GC and the one on the weekend to Weed traveled all of 60 metres. A player who can run and carry and then deliver the ball accurately over 50 metres is a critical in our game plan and indeed the way all teams are trying to play therse days

  • Quote
    • Like 1

    Just hope that his good SA mate, ANB, shows the same development and also becomes an integral part going forward!

  • Quote
    • 5 weeks later...

    Happy 20th birthday Billy Stretch!

    Love the way your progressing ^_^

    Edited by Lord Ivanhoe

  • Quote
    • Like 6

    Fantastic second year. Dropped in form a little bit in the final three weeks, but he wasn't alone there. 

  • Quote

    agree, he is progressing very well.  When he came on the scene last year with that frame I thought no games in first year then maybe a handful in year two but he has done very well.  He is so professional with training and preparation and is a great addition to the team

    will never be the Star player but will hopefully be very important with some much needed run and spread and tidy skills.

  • Quote
    • 2 years later...
    On 8/9/2016 at 8:54 AM, Redleg said:

    He has 4 attributes that are in demand, pace, disposal skill, work ethic and a footy brain. 

    So what has happened?

    Dropped again

  • Quote
    •  
    1 hour ago, Diamond_Jim said:

    So what has happened?

    Dropped again

    Can’t understand it. I thought he was better than Corey Wagner. It seems like he is on the outer.

  • Quote

    • Join the conversation

    You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

    Guest
    Unfortunately, your content contains terms that we do not allow. Please edit your content to remove the highlighted words below.
    Reply to this topic...
    Go to topic listing

    Featured Content

    • GAMEDAY: West Coast

      It's Game Day and the Demons have a chance to notch up their third consecutive win — something they haven’t done since Round 5, 2024. But to do it, they’ll need to exorcise the Demons of last year’s disastrous trip out West. Can the Dees continue their momentum, right the wrongs of that fateful clash, and take another step up the ladder on the road to redemption?

        • Like
      • 50 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • FEATURE: 1925

      A hundred years ago today, on 2 May 1925, Melbourne kicked off the new season with a 47 point victory over St Kilda to take top place on the VFL ladder after the opening round of the new season.  Top place was a relatively unknown position for the team then known as the “Fuchsias.” They had finished last in 1923 and rose by only one place in the following year although the final home and away round heralded a promise of things to come when they surprised the eventual premiers Essendon. That victory set the stage for more improvement and it came rapidly. In this series, I will tell the story of how the 1925 season unfolded for the Melbourne Football Club and how it made the VFL finals for the first time in a decade on the way to the ultimate triumph a year later.

      • 0 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • PREVIEW: West Coast

      Saturday’s election night game in Perth between the West Coast Eagles and Melbourne represents 18th vs 15th which makes it a tough decision as to which party to favour. The Eagles have yet to break the ice under their new coach in Andrew McQualter who is the second understudy in a row to confront Demon Coach Simon Goodwin who was also winless until a fortnight ago. On that basis, many punters might be considering to go with the donkey vote but I’ve been assigned with the task of helping readers to come to a considered opinion on this matter of vital importance across the nation. It was almost a year ago that I wrote a preview here of the Demons’ away game against the Eagles (under the name William from Waalitj because it was Indigenous Round).  I issued a warning that it was a danger game, based on my local knowledge that the home team were no longer easybeats and that they possessed a wunderkind generational player in Harley Reid who was capable of producing stellar performances playing among men a decade and more older than he.  At the time, the Eagles already had two wins off the back of a couple of the young man’s masterclasses and they had recently given the Bombers a scare straight after their Anzac Day blockbuster draw against the then reigning premiers.

      • 1 reply
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • NON-MFC: Round 08

      Round 08 of the 2025 AFL Season kicks off on Thursday with a must-win game for the Bombers to stay in touch with the top eight, while the struggling Roos seek a morale-boosting upset. Friday sees the Saints desperate for a win as well if they are to stay in finals contention and their opponents the Dockers will be eager to crack in to the Top 8 with a win on the road. Saturday kicks off with a pivotal clash for both sides asthe Bulldogs look to solidify their top-eight spot, while Port seeks to shake their pretender tag. Then the Crows will be looking to steady their topsy turvy season against a resurgent Blues looking to make it 4 wins on the trot. On Election Night a Blockbuster will see the ladder-leading Pies take on the Cats, who are keen to bounce back after a narrow loss. On Sunday the Sydney Derby promises fireworks as the Giants aim to cement their top-eight status, while the Swans fight to keep their season alive. The Hawks, celebrating their centenary, will be looking to easily account for the Tigers who are desperate to halt their slide. The Round concludes on Sunday Night with a top end of the table QClash with significant ladder implications; both Queensland teams are in scintillating form. Who are you tipping this week and what are the best results for the Demons?

        • Like
      • 177 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • PREGAME: West Coast

      The Demons hit the road in Round 8, heading to Perth to face the West Coast Eagles at Optus Stadium. With momentum building, the Dees will be aiming for a third straight victory to keep their season revival on course. Who comes in and who goes out?

        • Like
      • 563 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • REPORT: Richmond

      The fans who turned up to the MCG for Melbourne’s Anzac Day Eve clash against Richmond would have been disappointed if they turned up to see a great spectacle. As much as this was a night for the 71,635 in attendance to commemorate heroes of the nation’s past wars, it was also a time for the Melbourne Football Club to consolidate upon its first win after a horrific start to the 2025 season. On this basis, despite the fact that it was an uninspiring and dour struggle for most of its 100 minutes, the night will be one for the fans to remember. They certainly got value out of the pre match activity honouring those who fought for their country. The MCG and the lights of the city as backdrop was made for nights such as these and, in my view, we received a more inspirational ceremony of Anzac culture than others both here and elsewhere around the country. 

      • 0 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland
    View All