Billy Stretch Reflects on 12 Months Out of the Game

[Demonland 70,693]

 

[DeeSpencer 25,009]

The AFLPA probably deserve a good bashing every now and then but it's nice to see stuff like this where they are putting in the work to get things right. Billy was an incredibly hard worker and probably thought Physio was something he'd love as an athlete, I think it's great that he's reassessed his options and found something different. I reckon he'll make a great chippy.

[Demon Disciple 11,841]

Good to see that there are pathways and procedures put in place to help past players transition back into the ‘normal’ world. 

Talk about feeling lost having retired and realising you probably have another 30 years of your professional career ahead of you. Basically starting back at square one at 30 years of age.

[darkhorse72 1,873]

Great article and of all the hiccups the AFL does, the player support during and post career must be close to world best.

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,664]

A timely reminder that not every player drafted into he AFL is automatically set up for life. In fact, for many, the converse is true. Having set aside 5 or so years to give it a go, he comes out the other end 5 years behind his peer group having to start a new career.

I kept hearing how fastidious he was preparing for football so I imagine he's that way inclined in many things in life so I have every confidence he's going to be fine. But I'm sure there are many players tossed on the scrapheap early and without the necessary drive to make a go of a proper second career.

 

[radar 1,865]

Better when players had a real job or trade or studied

[Ham 741]

55 minutes ago, radar said:

Better when players had a real job or trade or studied

"Real job"

[The Chazz 4,077]

Always struck me as a good kid, Billy.  Interesting that he still had his battles to make that transition, even though he was quite intelligent off the field.

Articles like this should give us a bit of perspective.  The players that we support with great passion, then roast with great venom, are, at the end of the day, real people.  Like all of us, they have their own struggles, even when they are getting paid to play footy at the highest level.  We sit here and say player X needs to get delisted, etc, like they are a disposable commodity, back you can back it in that many of them would be struggling each time they go in to those end of year exit meetings, not knowing what their immediate future is going to bring.  Then if it goes as they expect, and they aren't offered a new contract, the fear of what the real world is going to bring can push them over.  Yes, it's a part of life, but non-athletes are probably a bit more immune to it as we are used to it.

All the best, Billy.

[deebug 1,754]

Well done Billy, i wish you all the best for your future?