Billy Stretch
{{Short description|Australian rules footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2015}}
{{Use Australian English|date=September 2015}}
{{Infobox AFL biography
| name = Billy Stretch
| image = Billy Stretch 2019.1.jpg
| caption = Stretch with Melbourne in June 2019
| fullname = Billy Stretch
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1996|09|08|df=y}}
| birth_place = Melbourne, Victoria{{cite news|url=http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl/melbourne-football-club-in-talks-with-the-son-of-steven-stretch/story-e6freckc-1226633208382|title=Melbourne Football Club in talks with the son of Steven Stretch|last=Turner|first=Matt|date=1 May 2013|work=The Advertiser|publisher=News Corp Australia|access-date=13 October 2015}}
| death_date =
| death_place =
| originalteam = Glenelg (SANFL)
| draftpick = No. 42 (F/S), 2014 national draft
| debutdate = Round 6, 2015
| debutteam = {{AFL Mel}}
| debutopponent = {{AFL Syd}}
| debutstadium = MCG
| height = 180 cm
| weight = 77 kg
| position = Midfielder
| currentclub = {{AFL Mel}}
| guernsey = 15
| years1 = 2015-2019
| club1 = {{AFL Mel}}
| games_goals1 = 47 (10)
| statsend = 2019
| careerhighlights =
}}
Billy Stretch (born 8 September 1996) is a former professional Australian rules footballer playing for the Melbourne Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). A midfielder, Stretch plays predominantly on the wing. Stretch was recognised as a talented footballer from a young age when he represented and captained South Australia at under 14 level, and continued to represent the state until under 18 level. His accolades as a junior include six best and fairest awards, a league best player award, national representation and All-Australian selection. His father, Steven Stretch, is a former player for the Melbourne Football Club and Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Medallist, which saw Billy recruited by the Melbourne Football Club under the father–son rule in the 2014 AFL draft and he made his AFL debut during the 2015 season.
Early life
Stretch was born to Steven and Leona Stretch in Melbourne, Victoria before moving to Adelaide, South Australia at five years of age.{{cite news|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-04-09/no-stretch-for-billy|title=AFL career no Stretch for Billy|last=Twomey|first=Callum|date=9 April 2014|work=AFL.com.au|publisher=Bigpond|access-date=13 October 2015}} His father played 164 games with the Melbourne Football Club and is a Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Medallist as the club's best and fairest player.{{cite news|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/youngster-billy-stretch-still-dreams-of-playing-for-melbourne/story-fni5f91a-1226662053615|title=Youngster Billy Stretch still dreams of playing for Melbourne|last=Clark|first=Jay|date=11 June 2013|work=Herald Sun|publisher=News Corp Australia|access-date=13 October 2015}} He attended Immanuel College and was recognised as a potential AFL player by Melbourne at fourteen years of age after playing his junior football with the Woodville-West Torrens Football Club and Henley Football Club, where he won six best and fairest awards by the age of fourteen; in addition he was named the best under 14 player in the Metro West Football Association and captained South Australia in the South Australian Primary Schools Amateur Sports Association (SAPSASA).{{cite news|url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/son-of-melbourne-demons-legend-steven-stretch-on-clubs-radar-at-just-fourteen-years-old/story-e6frf33l-1225963182874|title=Son of Melbourne Demons legend Steven Stretch on club's radar at just fourteen years old|last=Capell|first=Andrew|date=30 November 2010|work=The Advertiser|publisher=News Corp Australia|access-date=13 October 2015}}
{{Quote box
| quote = He’s an AFL player with a big future and is a fantastic athlete like his father.
| source = Kevin Sheehan, AFL talent manager.{{cite news|url=http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2014-09-30/stretch-a-genuine-afl-talent-sheehan|title=Stretch a genuine AFL talent: Sheehan|last=Burgan|first=Matt|date=30 September 2014|work=AFL.com.au|publisher=Bigpond|access-date=13 October 2015}}
| width = 30%
| align = left
}}
Stretch changed junior clubs to the Glenelg Football Club in 2009 and debuted for their South Australian National Football League (SANFL) reserves side in 2013. He was awarded state selection for South Australia at the 2012 under 16 championships and was named in the squad as a bottom-aged player in the 2013 AFL Under 18 Championships.
Stretch entered his final junior year with the prediction he would be recruited by Melbourne through the father–son rule in the 2014 AFL draft. The beginning of his final junior year saw him awarded a scholarship with the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) as part of the AIS-AFL Academy in the 2013 level two intake and he travelled to Europe for two weeks in April 2014 with a thirty-one man squad.{{cite news|url=http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl/glenelg-youngster-billy-stretch-reaches-for-the-stars-as-afl-ambition-gathers-steam/story-fnii02ub-1226874609132|title=Glenelg youngster Billy Stretch reaches for the stars as AFL ambition gathers steam|last=Okley|first=Sam|date=4 April 2014|work=The Advertiser|publisher=News Corp Australia|access-date=13 October 2015}} He received mid-year state honours and represented South Australia at the 2014 Under 18 Championships; playing mostly on the wing, he was named in the best players in four out of the five round-robin matches against Victoria Metro, Western Australia, and Victoria Country twice,{{cite news|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-06-01/sa-wins-at-a-stretch-over-vic-country|title=SA wins at a Stretch over Vic Country|last=Collins|first=Ben|date=1 June 2014|work=AFL.com.au|publisher=Bigpond|access-date=13 October 2015}}{{cite news|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-06-07/dees-potential-fatherson-pick-shines-for-sa|title=Dees' father–son prospect shines for SA|last=King|first=Travis|date=7 June 2014|work=AFL.com.au|publisher=Bigpond|access-date=13 October 2015}}{{cite news|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-06-14/vic-metro-defeats-sa|title=Plenty of the Wright stuff in Vic Metro win|last=Twomey|first=Callum|date=14 June 2014|work=AFL.com.au|publisher=Bigpond|access-date=13 October 2015}}{{cite news|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-06-27/daniels-stock-rise-after-dominant-performance-for-sa|title=Daniel's stocks on the rise after dominant performance for SA|last=Di Giorgio|first=Giulio|date=27 June 2014|work=AFL.com.au|publisher=Bigpond|access-date=13 October 2015}} and played in the winning final against Victoria Metro, and was again named in the best players.{{cite news|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-07-03/sa-u18s-go-backtoback|title=South Australia wins back-to-back U18 championships|last=Di Giorgio|first=Giulio|date=3 July 2014|work=AFL.com.au|publisher=Bigpond|access-date=13 October 2015}} His efforts in the championships were rewarded with All-Australian selection on the wing.{{cite news|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-07-04/under18-all-australian-team|title=Metro dominates 2014 Under-18 All Australian team|last=Twomey|first=Callum|date=4 July 2014|work=AFL.com.au|publisher=Bigpond|access-date=13 October 2015}} In addition, he became a regular in Glenelg's senior side with strong performances late in the season, including a best on ground performance against Adelaide in round 16, which earned him three votes in the Magarey Medal.{{cite news|url=http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl/melbourne-zeroes-in-on-glenelg-son-of-a-gun-billy-stretch-as-a-fatherson-pick/story-fnia42zp-1227053155125|title=Melbourne zeroes in on Glenelg son of a gun Billy Stretch as a father–son pick|last=Capel|first=Andrew|date=9 September 2014|work=The Advertiser|publisher=News Corp Australia|access-date=13 October 2015}}
AFL career
Stretch was nominated as a potential draftee by the Melbourne Football Club in September 2014 under the father–son rule.{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/melbourne-to-nominate-billy-stretch-as-fatherson-draftee-20140908-10e3pj.html|title=Melbourne to nominate Billy Stretch as father–son draftee|last=Quayle|first=Emma|date=8 September 2014|work=The Age|publisher=Fairfax Media|access-date=13 October 2015}} After {{AFL Ade}} bid their second round pick on Stretch, Melbourne committed their third round pick{{Cite news|title=Billy Stretch realises dream and joins Melbourne Demons under father–son rule|first=Michelangelo|last=Rucci|url=http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl/billy-stretch-realises-dream-and-joins-melbourne-demons-under-fatherson-rule/story-fnia42zp-1227081741724|access-date=10 May 2015|work=The Advertiser|publisher=News Corp Australia|date=6 October 2014}} and recruited him with their fourth selection and forty-second overall in the 2014 national draft.{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/afl/trading-and-drafting/afl-draft-2014-clubbyclub-selections-20141127-11vo5y.html|title=AFL Draft 2014: Club-by-club selections|date=28 November 2014|work=The Age|publisher=Fairfax Media|access-date=13 October 2015}} After spending the start of the 2015 season playing in the Victorian Football League (VFL) for Melbourne's affiliate team, the Casey Scorpions,{{cite news|url=http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2015-03-17/brayshaw-stretch-impress-in-vfl|title=Brayshaw, Stretch impress in VFL|last=Burgan|first=Matt|date=17 March 2015|work=MelbourneFC.com.au|publisher=Bigpond|access-date=13 October 2015}} he made his AFL debut against the Sydney Swans in round six at the Melbourne Cricket Ground,{{Cite news|url=http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2015-05-08/billys-dream-comes-true|title=Billy's dream comes true|last=Burgan|first=Matt|date=9 May 2015|work=MelbourneFC.com.au|publisher=Bigpond|access-date=10 May 2015}} where he kicked his first goal with his first kick.{{cite web|url=http://www.afl.com.au/video/2015-05-09/stretch-celebrates-on-debut|title=Stretch celebrates on debut|date=9 May 2015|work=AFL.com.au|publisher=Bigpond|access-date=13 October 2015}} He played eleven matches in his debut season{{cite news|url=http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2015-10-06/stretch-exceeds-expectations-firstup|title=Stretch exceeds expectations first-up|last1=Lewis|first1=Georgina|last2=Burgan|first2=Matt|date=6 October 2015|work=MelbourneFC.com.au|publisher=Bigpond|access-date=13 October 2015}} and was praised by Melbourne football operations manager, Josh Mahoney, as someone who "adapted really quickly to the demands of being an AFL player."{{cite news|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-09-25/demons-lock-in-four-youngsters-to-new-deals|title=Demons lock in four youngsters to new deals|last=Guthrie|first=Ben|date=25 September 2015|work=AFL.com.au|publisher=Bigpond|access-date=13 October 2015}}
After playing the first two matches in the 2016 NAB Challenge,{{cite web|url=http://www.afl.com.au/match-centre/nab-challenge/2016/1/port-v-melb|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160202194235/http://www.afl.com.au/match-centre/nab-challenge/2016/1/port-v-melb|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 February 2016|title=Second-half blitz helps Demons run over Power|last=Thring|first=Harry|date=27 February 2016|work=AFL.com.au|publisher=Bigpond|access-date=2 November 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.afl.com.au/match-centre/nab-challenge/2016/1/wb-v-melb|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160202194305/http://www.afl.com.au/match-centre/nab-challenge/2016/1/wb-v-melb|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 February 2016|title=Determined Demons outlast young Bulldogs|last=Ryan|first=Peter|date=6 March 2016|work=AFL.com.au|publisher=Bigpond|access-date=2 November 2016}} Stretch missed selection for the opening round match against {{AFL GWS}} and played his first AFL match of the year against {{AFL NM}} at Blundstone Arena in round three.{{cite web|url=http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2016-05-20/stretch-moves-on-from-heartstopper|title=Stretch moves on from heartstopper|last=Burgan|first=Matt|date=20 May 2016|work=MelbourneFC.com.au|publisher=Bigpond|access-date=2 November 2016}} With seconds left in the match, he had a chance to kick the winning goal, however his snap for goal missed and registered as a behind.{{cite web|url=http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2016-04-11/analysis-billy-to-be-a-hero-tomorrow|title=Analysis: Billy to be a hero tomorrow|last=Burgan|first=Matt|date=11 April 2016|work=MelbourneFC.com.au|publisher=Bigpond|access-date=2 November 2016}} He was omitted the next week for the match against {{AFL Ric}} at the Melbourne Cricket Ground,{{cite web|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-04-15/round-four-teams-named|title=TEAMS: Dockers load up on talls, Garlett misses out again|last=King|first=Travis|date=15 April 2016|work=AFL.com.au|publisher=Bigpond|access-date=2 November 2016}} and returned for the seventy-three point win against {{AFL GC}} at Metricon Stadium in round seven.{{cite web|url=http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2016-05-05/round-seven-teams-the-ins-and-outs|title=Round seven teams: the ins and outs|last=Bowen|first=Nick|date=5 May 2016|work=AFL.com.au|publisher=Bigpond|access-date=2 November 2016}} His next two weeks saw him break his career-high disposal counts with twenty-five and thirty-one disposals against the {{AFL WB}} and {{AFL GC}} respectively.{{cite web|url=http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2016-05-20/billys-belief-grows-after-big-game|title=Billy's belief grows after big game|last=Burgan|first=Matt|date=20 May 2016|work=MelbourneFC.com.au|publisher=Bigpond|access-date=2 November 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2016-05-22/billy-bobs-up-with-backtoback-beauties|title=Billy bobs up with back-to-back beauties|last=Burgan|first=Matt|date=20 May 2016|work=MelbourneFC.com.au|publisher=Bigpond|access-date=2 November 2016}} The match against Gold Coast saw him earn praise from then-Melbourne coach, Paul Roos, who said his game was "fantastic",{{cite web|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-05-22/match-report-melbourne-v-brisbane-lions|title=Match report: Demons' high five sees finals in prospect|last=McKay|first=Ben|date=22 May 2016|work=AFL.com.au|publisher=Bigpond|access-date=2 November 2016}} and Herald Sun chief of football writer, Mark Robinson, who commended his ball use and decision making.{{cite web|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/expert-opinion/mark-robinson/the-tackle-heath-shaw-collingwood-and-christian-petracca-among-the-highlights-from-round-9/news-story/bff4383973ff9eaf6f9c3690d96ea22d|title=The Tackle: Heath Shaw, Collingwood and Christian Petracca among the highlights from Round 9|last=Robinson|first=Mark|date=22 May 2016|work=Herald Sun|publisher=News Corp Australia]|access-date=2 November 2016}} He missed one match for the remainder of the season, the thirty-six point loss against {{AFL StK}} at Etihad Stadium in round seventeen{{cite web|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-07-15/eagles-recruit-chopped-for-the-third-time-this-year|title=TEAMS: Eagles recruit axed again, gun Demon mid back|last=Gutrhie|first=Ben|date=15 July 2016|work=AFL.com.au|publisher=Bigpond|access-date=2 November 2016}} to finish with sixteen matches for the season and a sixteenth-place finish in the best and fairest count.{{cite news|url=http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2016-09-06/viney-edges-jones-to-win-first-bluey|title=Viney edges Jones to win first 'Bluey'|last=Burgan|first=Matt|date=6 September 2016|work=MelbourneFC.com.au|publisher=Bigpond|access-date=2 November 2016}}
Coming off the 2017 pre-season, in which he had "taken great strides, adding bulk to his frame and improving his ability to win contested footy" according to AFL Media journalist, Ben Guthrie,{{cite news|url=http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2017-02-04/whos-starring-on-the-track|title=Who's starring on the track?|last=Guthrie|first=Ben|date=4 February 2017|work=AFL.com.au|publisher=Bigpond|access-date=28 December 2017}} Stretch played the opening five matches of the AFL season before he was dropped for the round six match against {{AFL Ess}} at Etihad Stadium.{{cite news|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-teams-round-6-full-squads-for-every-game-ins-and-outs-injuries-suspensions-and-team-news/news-story/afabd95c971bfca1a82153cda8a48560|title=AFL Teams Round 6: Full squads for every game, ins and outs, injuries, suspensions and team news|date=28 April 2017|work=Fox Sports (Australia)|publisher=News Corp Australia|access-date=28 December 2017}} He spent nine weeks in the VFL before returning in the three point win against {{AFL WC}} at Domain Stadium in round fourteen.{{cite news|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-teams-round-14-full-squads-for-every-game-ins-and-outs-suspensions-and-team-news/news-story/ff03a82cc13e5c3e93e42f4ebc7006d2|title=AFL Teams Round 14: Full squads for every game, ins and outs, suspensions and team news|date=23 June 2017|work=Fox Sports (Australia)|publisher=News Corp Australia|access-date=28 December 2017}} He played three consecutive matches before being omitted for the round seventeen match against Adelaide at TIO Stadium.{{cite news|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/teams/round-17-afl-teams-see-the-teams-as-they-drop-and-get-expert-supercoach-advice/news-story/77dd0437abb0845a648e80832684f753|title=Round 17 AFL teams: see the teams as they drop and get expert SuperCoach advice|date=13 July 2017|work=Herald Sun|publisher=News Corp Australia|access-date=28 December 2017}} Despite having strong form in the VFL, he struggled to play regularly in the senior team, and played only one match for the remainder of the season,{{cite news|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-07-21/talented-demon-pair-locked-in-with-new-deals|title=Talented Demon pair locked in with new deals|last=Guthrie|first=Ben|date=21 July 2017|work=AFL.com.au|publisher=Bigpond|access-date=28 December 2017}} the thirteen point win against {{AFL BL2}} at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in round twenty-two.{{cite news|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-teams-round-22-full-squads-for-every-game-ins-and-outs-injuries-supercoach-advice/news-story/e15edc9b46c9135119d2247acd47d5ca|title=AFL Teams Round 22: Full squads for every game, ins and outs, injuries, SuperCoach advice|date=18 August 2017|work=Fox Sports (Australia)|publisher=News Corp Australia|access-date=28 December 2017}} He finished the season with nine matches and signed a contract extension, tying him to the club until the end of the 2019 season.{{cite news|url=http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2017-07-21/billy-stretches-contract-until-2019|title=Billy stretches contract until 2019|last=Burgan|first=Matt|date=21 July 2017|work=MelbourneFC.com.au|publisher=Bigpond|access-date=28 December 2017}}
Stretch managed a further 11 games across the 2018 and 2019 seasons before being delisted at the end of 2019.{{cite web |last1=Beveridge |first1=Riley |title=Two more Demons chopped after failing to find new homes |url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/148731/two-more-demons-chopped-after-failing-to-find-new-homes |website=AFL.com.au |access-date=10 August 2022}}
Statistics
: Statistics are correct to the end of the 2019 season{{cite web|url=http://afltables.com/afl/stats/players/B/Billy_Stretch.html|title=Billy Stretch|work=AFL Tables|access-date=9 May 2015}}
{{AFL player statistics legend}}
{{AFL player statistics start}}
|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2015
|{{AFL Mel}}
| 15 || 11 || 2 || 2 || 63 || 51 || 114 || 26 || 39 || 0.2 || 0.2 || 5.7 || 4.7 || 10.4 || 2.4 || 3.6
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2016
|{{AFL Mel}}
| 15 || 16 || 3 || 4 || 122 || 170 || 292 || 49 || 59 || 0.2 || 0.3 || 7.6 || 10.6 || 18.2 || 3.1 || 3.7
|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2017
|{{AFL Mel}}
| 15 || 9 || 3 || 4 || 57 || 107 || 164 || 30 || 30 || 0.3 || 0.4 || 6.3 || 11.9 || 18.2 || 3.3 || 3.3
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2018
|{{AFL Mel}}
| 15 || 2 || 0 || 2 || 22 || 18 || 40 || 7 || 6 || 0.0 || 1.0 || 11.0 || 9.0 || 20.0 || 3.5 || 3.0
|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2019
|{{AFL Mel}}
| 15 || 9 || 2 || 1 || 91 || 65 || 156 || 36 || 27 || 0.2 || 0.1 || 10.1 || 7.2 || 17.3 || 4.0 || 3.0
|- class="sortbottom"
! colspan=3| Career
! 47
! 10
! 13
! 355
! 411
! 766
! 148
! 161
! 0.2
! 0.3
! 7.6
! 8.7
! 16.3
! 3.1
! 3.4
|}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- {{Melbplayer}}
- {{AFL Tables|ref=B/Billy_Stretch.html}}
- {{Twitter|id=billyjstretch}}
- [http://demonwiki.org/tiki-index.php?page=Billy+Stretch Billy Stretch's profile] from Demonwiki
{{2014 AFL national draft}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stretch, Billy}}
Category:Melbourne Football Club players
Category:Glenelg Football Club players
Category:Australian rules footballers from Adelaide