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Billy Stretch Appreciation Thread

dazzledavey36
in Melbourne Demons

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I've always wanted to see Stretch get a run at it and maybe he will get more games with our injuries, but I'm at the point where I feel like we can call time on him. His decision making isn't improving (he continually looks like he sh*ts his pants in traffic and he picks terrible options downfield too often) and his contested work isn't improving (he squibbed one contest and dropped his head when marking late in the game). He is a good runner but that isn't anywhere near enough to overcome these two major deficiencies.

22 minutes ago, A F said:

I know this is a Stretch thread, but I reckon our coaches (Goodwin?) have severely mismanaged Stretch and Petracca.

Stretch has yo-yoed in and out of the side for 3 or 4 years now, while someone like ANB has had continuity and managed to get some confidence up last year.

Stretch doesn't know what his game is anymore and he seems to overthink everything. 

Petracca has done a lot right this season, but that internal spray they gave him mid last year for not passing off in one set up has really damaged his confidence. His goal kicking wasn't great in the early part of last year, but it has got worse since the moment that selfish play of his was allegedly pulled out in front of every team mate.

He tries to do too much too often and sometimes those dinky kicks inside 50 come off, but more often than not, he should be backing himself in to kick the goal. 

I suspect that if Goodwin had his time again, he and his team would have handled Stretch and Petracca differently.

Billy won't make it now and Christian can't seem to take that next step, which is convert his multiple shots on goal into scoreboard power. He'd be a very good player if he managed that.

Source for any of that Petracca stuff?

IMO Petracca wasn't that bad today. He was doing a lot right but the way our midfielders delivered the ball to our forwards (i.e. almost never to advantage) he wasn't able to get into the game. 

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    29 minutes ago, A F said:

    I know this is a Stretch thread, but I reckon our coaches (Goodwin?) have severely mismanaged Stretch and Petracca.

    Stretch has yo-yoed in and out of the side for 3 or 4 years now, while someone like ANB has had continuity and managed to get some confidence up last year.

    Stretch doesn't know what his game is anymore and he seems to overthink everything. 

    Petracca has done a lot right this season, but that internal spray they gave him mid last year for not passing off in one set up has really damaged his confidence. His goal kicking wasn't great in the early part of last year, but it has got worse since the moment that selfish play of his was allegedly pulled out in front of every team mate.

    He tries to do too much too often and sometimes those dinky kicks inside 50 come off, but more often than not, he should be backing himself in to kick the goal. 

    I suspect that if Goodwin had his time again, he and his team would have handled Stretch and Petracca differently.

    Billy won't make it now and Christian can't seem to take that next step, which is convert his multiple shots on goal into scoreboard power. He'd be a very good player if he managed that.

    With due respect this is a highly speculative scenario based on zero internal knowledge of what if naything was said and it's impact on Petracca. 

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    Yes Stretch was poor and so were 14 others today very poor. 

    Stretch Petty Spargo Garlett Omcd Fritsch TSmith cWagner OUTS

    Lever Preuss Hibberd Lewis Hannan May JKH Salem INS 

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    Petracca is being criticised because he is potentially a very good player and people ca see that. Criticising Stretch and Spargo is just silly. They play as well as they can and are VFL standard.

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    I was intrigued watching Stretch kick beautifully from 40 plus out in the last. It sailed through. I did not think he had the distance and wonder why he always does dinky kicks to little benefit. Tell him to take the game on and kick it long to advantage.

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    15 minutes ago, Sorry kids said:

    I was intrigued watching Stretch kick beautifully from 40 plus out in the last. It sailed through. I did not think he had the distance and wonder why he always does dinky kicks to little benefit. Tell him to take the game on and kick it long to advantage.

    Agree. When he tries to finesse, it comes unstuck.  Surely the coaches know his strengths and his weaknesses and advise. If we can see it...

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    Live he was fine. And in the top 11 players of ours on the ground. Yes he isn’t best 22, but he is that 23-26 player we need when injuries hit. He works hard and continues to play out the game. Not an issue at all. 

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    4 hours ago, titan_uranus said:

    I've always wanted to see Stretch get a run at it and maybe he will get more games with our injuries, but I'm at the point where I feel like we can call time on him. His decision making isn't improving (he continually looks like he sh*ts his pants in traffic and he picks terrible options downfield too often) and his contested work isn't improving (he squibbed one contest and dropped his head when marking late in the game). He is a good runner but that isn't anywhere near enough to overcome these two major deficiencies.

    Source for any of that Petracca stuff?

    IMO Petracca wasn't that bad today. He was doing a lot right but the way our midfielders delivered the ball to our forwards (i.e. almost never to advantage) he wasn't able to get into the game. 

    https://wwos.nine.com.au/afl/afl-matthew-lloyd-criticises-melbourne-christian-petracca-efforts-in-finals-win/0f7951fb-66f0-45cf-8730-e6a71ec3ab36

    Not the greatest source, but better than nothing:

    Lloyd’s criticism around Petracca’s game comes following the revelation from former AFL great Brian Taylor, who revealed earlier in the year that the young forward had been identified as being selfish.

    “I’m led to believe that there was a video run and it was run on loop of the same player over and over again moments before they went out onto the ground – not giving a handball,” Taylor said on Triple M’s The Mid-Week Rub.

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    5 hours ago, DV8 said:

    IF this is true,  then he doesn't Have what it takes to be Elite...  nor a strong AFL player.

    A lot more to it than that.

    As someone who is a coach, every player has different triggers.

    I'd argue he's had to wear quite a bit of expectation and hype.

    He's having a good season and his mental frailty only seems to come into it when he's taking set shots and he overthinks things. He wouldn't be the first AFL footballer to go through that.

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    4 hours ago, chookrat said:

    With due respect this is a highly speculative scenario based on zero internal knowledge of what if naything was said and it's impact on Petracca. 

    Of course, I'm not inside the walls of the football club. All I can see is what I see on the football field and since this allegedly happened, his confidence has never seemed to be quite the same. Speculation without talking to Petracca, but there is certainly a correlation.

    As for Stretch, that's for all to see. He's gone into his shell over many seasons now, as he's been in and out of the side. And until this year, regularly only got one shot at it at a time. On the football field, he seems to have come back each time, weaker for it.

    Edited by A F

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    4 minutes ago, A F said:

    A lot more to it than that.

    As someone who is a coach, every player has different triggers.

    I'd argue he's had to wear quite a bit of expectation and hype.

    He's having a good season and his mental frailty only seems to come into it when he's taking set shots and he overthinks things. He wouldn't be the first AFL footballer to go through that.

    We both have hope for.

    You have more faith in him,  than i do.

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    I must have been legit the only person who thought Stretch actually played an ok game? 

    Edited by dazzledavey36

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    2 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

    I must have been legit the only person who thought Stretch actually played an ok game? 

    Yes you are

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    16 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

    I must have been legit the only person who thought Stretch actually played an ok game? 

    I though he was ok in a side that was generally horrible. 

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    9 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

    I must have been legit the only person who thought Stretch actually played an ok game? 

    He was cleaner in his disposal than most 

    I thought he played  his role and tried very hard all day Far from our worst.

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    9 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

    I must have been legit the only person who thought Stretch actually played an ok game? 

    No you are not Dazzle. He is a whipping boy on here. I would be getting rid of plenty before him. Needs a few more games and hopefully as confidence grows we can see his best.  At the top of the list to go IMO  is the most frightened player on the list, Jeffy.

    Edited by Redleg

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    Id say Petracca has plenty of advice on not stressing himself and then relaxes too much. He then just retreats into his normal game. Some players have been uncoachable. Wouldnt be surprised if Tracc is one.

    Edited by Damo

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    31 minutes ago, Redleg said:

    No you are not Dazzle. He is a whipping boy on here. I would be getting rid of plenty before him. Needs a few more games and hopefully as confidence grows we can see his best.  At the top of the list to go IMO  is the most frightened player on the list, Jeffy.

    Thanks Red, i honestly think he just needs a really good block of games just to get continuity into his game. Averaging 17.7 disposals per game and has play 44 games. So hes right at thay 50 game mark where hopefully he'll start to really show what he's capable of.

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    15 hours ago, titan_uranus said:

    IMO Petracca wasn't that bad today. He was doing a lot right but the way our midfielders delivered the ball to our forwards (i.e. almost never to advantage) he wasn't able to get into the game. 

    Could pretty much write that for all forwards who play there atm

    Edited by Rusty Nails

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    1 hour ago, dazzledavey36 said:

    Thanks Red, i honestly think he just needs a really good block of games just to get continuity into his game. Averaging 17.7 disposals per game and has play 44 games. So hes right at thay 50 game mark where hopefully he'll start to really show what he's capable of.

    Yep. I think his natural game has been coached out of him, with him being told he is not to turnover the ball at all costs and that has stopped him playing on like he did in his first few games. He was a run and carry player who is now stop start. I think he has improvement in him.

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    18 minutes ago, Redleg said:

    Yep. I think his natural game has been coached out of him, with him being told he is not to turnover the ball at all costs and that has stopped him playing on like he did in his first few games. He was a run and carry player who is now stop start. I think he has improvement in him.

    Agree on firts three points. Not sure i agree with the last

    Before he got injured last year he was starting to play really well and much more fluent and instinctive. But seems so hesitant now. Needs to release the ball more quickly and take the game on and break some lines. Those issues were on display again yesterday, though there was couple of occasions where he did kick quickly.

    On improvement i think it is dependent on his mindset. If he he can free up a bit and have the confidence to attack then he could well improve. And to be honest that is the coaching staff's job to help him get his mind right.

    I would have dropped him after WC but was ok yesterday and with our injuries gets his chance to make a case to stay in the idea. I hope he takes the chance as i think the talent is there.   

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    I like Stretch and have given him time, but he is just too damn slow moving the ball. 

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    8 minutes ago, binman said:

    Agree on firts three points. Not sure i agree with the last

    Before he got injured last year he was starting to play really well and much more fluent and instinctive. But seems so hesitant now. Needs to release the ball more quickly and take the game on and break some lines. Those issues were on display again yesterday, though there was couple of occasions where he did kick quickly.

    On improvement i think it is dependent on his mindset. If he he can free up a bit and have the confidence to attack then he could well improve. And to be honest that is the coaching staff's job to help him get his mind right.

    I would have dropped him after WC but was ok yesterday and with our injuries gets his chance to make a case to stay in the idea. I hope he takes the chance as i think the talent is there.   

    Have been going to make same comments nearly all season but threads get away from me.

    When I have seen live games , Billy seems to be running and making good positions but is not always used, then when he gets it, stops and props, doesn't move it on to passing runner. The last trait may be why he is not used.

    There seems to be a lack of knowledge or lack of confidence, both could be affected by him not getting a sustained run in ones, he is not seen as, accepted as a first team player. He does still seem to be a little under muscled but I think his old man was similar physique and seemed to go ok, so maybe needs some more consideration.

    How do the fringe players train? Are they with the main squad every session or do they spend more time at Casey.

    I hope we train as a complete squad with intensity supplied by competition for spots. Selection can then be based on matching against opposition, with promotion only being made on performance. Hopefully this arrangement can be achieved as we get a full list back from injury.

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