Statewide Super League Top 50 – No.26

By ZAC MILBANK

Glenelg was delighted to welcome Billy Stretch back to Brighton Road at the end of 2019.

While the Tigers’ junior product was unlucky to be delisted by Melbourne after 47 AFL games since 2015, he looms as a smooth-moving recruit for premiership mentor Mark Stone.

Making his Statewide Super League debut for the Bays in his draft year of 2014, the 23-year-old is entering the prime of his career, determined to make an impact in senior SANFL ranks.

Coming off foot surgery in the off-season, Stretch can line up for the Tigers on the inside or outside of the contest in the midfield while also offering the flexibility to play across half-forward or half-back.

Joining the likes of Magarey Medallist Luke Partington and Jack Oatey Medallist Matt Snook in the centre square, Stretch won’t be relied upon to be a major contributor which should allow him to settle in seamlessly.

Importantly, he offers the ability to carry the ball across lines with his exceptional aerobic capacity while also looming as a long-term leader at the club should he not find his way back on to an AFL list in the future.

Selected by SANFL Media Producer Zac Milbank, the 2020 Statewide Super League Top 50 is being unveiled one player at a time on the League’s website and social media channels.

For incumbent SANFL players, form across the 2019 season was used as a significant factor in the selection process, with selection in The Advertiser Team of the Year, West End State squad, club leadership group and placings in club best-and-fairest weighing heavily.

This is to ensure there is meaningful movement of player rankings between each year’s Top 50 list at the start and end of the season.

Recruits to the Statewide Super League for 2020 have also been included, with significant AFL experience, performance at State League level and their predicted impact proving critical in deciding the order of players.

26 – Billy Stretch (Glenelg)
27 – Joseph Haines (South)
28 – Brad McKenzie (Norwood)
29 – Matthew Rose (South)
30 – James Rowe (Eagles)
31 – Dom Barry (Norwood)
32 – Justin Hoskin (Central)
33 – Harrison Wigg (North)
34 – Matthew Allen (Glenelg)
35 – Troy Menzel (Central)
36 – Mitch Grigg (Norwood)
37 – Jack Hayes (Eagles)
38 – James Rose (South)
39 – Robbie Young (North)
40 – Andrew Bradley (Glenelg)
41 – Tom Schwarz (North)
42 – Matthew Panos (Norwood)
43 – Brad Agnew (Glenelg)
44 – Cole Gerloff (Norwood)
45 – Matthew Wright (Adelaide)
46 – Dean Gore (Sturt)
47 – Tom Keough (West)
48 – Jesse Lonergan (Eagles)
49 – Alex Spina (North)
50 – Logan Hill (West)