NOT MUCH OF A STRETCH  

Poor form and injury severely hampered Billy Stretch’s 2018 campaign. He spent much of the early part of the year at Casey and played only two games at AFL level. Unfortunately, after a series of good performances at VFL level, he returned to his best with an excellent 24 possessions against Fremantle in the slippery conditions in Darwin but was diagnosed with a stress fracture to the toe in the week after that game and missed the remainder of the season.  

Date of Birth: 8 September, 1996   

Height: 180cm  

Weight: 80kg  

Games MFC 2018: 2   

Career Total: 38  

Goals MFC 2018: 0  

Career Total: 8  

CDFC Games 2018: 9  

CDFC Goals 2018: 6  

Votes 2018 Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Memorial Trophy: 21 votes 

Injured after break-out game - disappointing for Billy and the club.

Billy  was dropped earlier in the year as he just couldn't get going for some reason or another or seemed disinterested as  l saw it through my eyes. I remember him playing some very good games against Geelong  at the cattery and Hawthorn at the G which we beat both of them as Billy's future looked bright at the time.

Going back to Casey did him good as he started to find his feet and enjoy his footy where he played several outstanding games with continuity mainly on the ball and was pivotal for them as Casey went on a winning streak of 12 games with Billy being involved in 7 or 8 of those games. Came back into the Melbourne side against Fremantle and played an excellent game tackling hard and being involved linking up well and he  belonged. Unfortunately he had a fractured small toe  and was ruled out for the rest of the season.

 The kid has talent and  is only 22  and with a good preseason behind him l believe will be pushing for selection in round 1 2019. 

 

Played one good game and then injured his toe. That's the story of his year.

2019 will be a pivotal year for Billy.

If he stays injury free he could be a big contributor as an outside runner .... happily there will be plenty of competition and pressure on places so over to you, Billy