Melbourne zeroes in on Glenelg son of a gun Billy Stretch as a father-son pick

MELBOURNE has confirmed it wants SA young gun Billy Stretch — the offspring of ex-Demon Steven Stretch — as a father-son draft pick.

SA U18s players with the U18 National Championship trophy, from left, Jake Johansen, Sam Durdin and Billy Stretch, who is likely to be drafted by Melbourne. Picture: Sarah Reed.

MELBOURNE has confirmed it wants SA young gun Billy Stretch as a father-son draft pick.

The Demons are set to file the paperwork with the AFL this week and will land Stretch unless they are outbid by a rival club for the hardrunning midfielder’s services.

The son of former Melbourne best and fairest winner Steven Stretch, Billy, 18, made this year’s All-Australian under-18 team after a standout national carnival.

He finished the season with several strong performances for Glenelg’s league team and was awarded three Magarey Medal votes for his best-afield display against Adelaide in round 16.

Father-son bidding will officially take place on October 6. It is expected Melbourne will have to part for a second or third round pick to secure Stretch, with other clubs also rating him highly.

If a club bids for Stretch, Melbourne must draft him with its next available pick to secure him.

However, if there are no rival bids the Dees can take him with their last live pick at the November national draft.

Stretch has been on Melbourne’s recruiting radar since the age of 12.

His dad, Steven, played 164 games for the club from 1986-93.

Father-son bidding day could produce up to 10 picks, with Collingwood and the Brisbane Lions nominating Darcy Moore — the son of dual Brownlow Medallist Peter Moore — and Josh Clayton respectively.

The Magpies, meanwhile, have re-signed exciting Croweaters Ben Kennedy and Tim Broomhead to contract extensions.

Kennedy and Broomhead — drafted at picks 19 and 20 from Glenelg and the Port Magpies respectively at the 2012 national draft — have signed deals until the end of 2016.

“There is a lot of work ahead of Ben and Tim but we’re very confident that if they continue to apply themselves, as they have to date, then they can have very good careers,’’ Collingwood football director Rodney Eade said.

Originally published as Melbourne zeroes in on Glenelg son of a gun Billy Stretch as a father-son pick