NEW RECRUIT Billy Stretch says he’s enjoying the learning experience of his first pre-season at Melbourne.
Stretch, who is living with third-year player Jimmy Toumpas, said his fellow South Australian had helped him adjust to the demands of AFL football.
“It’s been great, obviously in your first year you spend quite a bit of time with the other new draftees and it’s been really good getting to know them,” he told melbournefc.com.au.
“I’m also living with Jimmy Toumpas, so I’ve tried to hang off his back a bit and learn as much as I can and get into some similar habits to what he’s been into. It’s good having him there as he’s been through it for a few years now.
“All the boys are really fantastic in welcoming you and embracing you into the culture and it’s great.”
A quick winger with elite endurance at under 18s level, Stretch was drafted as a father-son selection with Melbourne’s third round pick (no.42 overall).
Heading into his first year in the AFL system, he said he was keen to focus on his development and overall improvement.
“We’re not placing too many expectations on ourselves and the coaches are really good in reinforcing good habits,” Stretch said.
“I just want to learn as much as I can off the senior players and really just improve my game and help take my game to the next level.
“So no expectations, I’ll just hopefully play some consistent footy and keep improving my game.”
Reflecting on Melbourne’s January pre-season camp in Maroochydore, Stretch said the trip provided the draftees with an opportunity to learn from the senior players in a different environment.
“It’s been a really good challenge for us younger boys,” Stretch said.
“I think we’ve really embraced it and just tried to learn as much as we can and soak everything up and really enjoy the experience and try and get into some good habits.
“So it’s been a fantastic experience and it [was] certainly a testing week and a half up [there] and it’s good that the boys are really embracing the challenges that have been thrown at them.”
