I should have added another 2 obvious examples of Santy going onto his left. Last Saturday night, he also snapped for goal on his left (and it spilled off Simmo's hands after Simmo decided it was going to miss). And when we played the Doggies early last season, he ran out to CHF and gathered a ball on the half volley about 55m out, and then did a tight 180 to his right. That appeared to catch Hargraves completely offguard and Santy was left free and clear. Eddie led to Santy's right and Santy checked and chipped a right-footed kick to hit up Eddie who goaled. I assume it was Santy's willingness to go onto his left foot rather than turning left onto his right foot that left Hargraves floundering.

When and if he starts potting them on his left, he'll present defenders with an invidious problem. They'll feel vulnerable to being turned inside out if they have no idea what foot he'll turn onto, and they'll want to try to force him to the ground or hold on to keep him from doing so. That'll see him awarded frees. He'll also be much more likely to be able to turn his defender inside out than single-footed forwards. Brilliantly skilled Fev may be, but he doesn't have a left foot. He has compensated to a degree by being able to kick off the outside of his right foot to be able to goal as he runs to the left of the goal, but it isn't quite as good as being able to kick off both feet.

Nice thread my son. But you are wrong.

If Setanta can average 3 goals a game for the year why move him? Remember, he playing at FF can be likened to the entire team including the coach without Fevola. It is a learning experience.

As for Thornton, he reminds me of someone we have on the long term injury list only better. Fisher. He is faster, can read the play better, is a better kick, maybe not as good a mark but adequate. Why not use him as a third tall after Setanta and Henderson. Put Waite down back with Jamison and Bower who hopefully will be back this week.

Walker should stop being asked to tag opponents and just run with the bloody ball. That's what he is good at. Use his strengths. Do not play him any further up the ground than the wing.

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"Get ready, Teddy - you're on": Ron Barassi half time 1970 Grand Final

those of you suggesting we should trade thornton should take a good hard look at yourselves.

The guy has been a stalwart down back for years now. Often playing a lone hand down there and still winning the battle. WE CANNOT TRADE THORNTON.

IMO Bower is not your typical FB/stopper. Bower is the type to play on a mid sized forward and carve them up going the other way with his run and dash. I still remember last years rd.2 clash against the lions when jamo had held bradshaw goalless or to 1 goal when he went off with a shoulder injury, which forced Bower on braddy, which then saw braddy fire up and get the lions back in the game and finish with 6 goals. I would be more comfortable with Jamo/T-bird to take the key backs as stoppers, and Bower to be the 3rd up/dashing creator from down back.

point is T-bird may have been beaten by brown but which defender hasn't been this season or at some stage when playing on brown? The criticism is not substantiated.

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i AM CARLTON

I'd like to dispel the myth that T-Bird is to small to be a key position defender.

Matthew Scarlett.....192cm, 94 kg

Bret Thornton....192cm, 92 kg

It's not the size, it's the ability!

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I see you watching me watching you.

And I remember Bower steadily improving after that game. He can man a tall as well as anyone in our team. His versatility is a huge bonus.

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29 different attributes,
And only 7 that you like;
20 ways to see the world,
Or 20 ways to start a fight.

Just to clear it up again, I was at the game and Carlos' shot was touched off the boot. That was why it ricocheted over the boundary. It wasn't an errant kick. Sure, Robbo was a better option, but there's a long list of AFL footballers that have had a ping when others have been in better position so let's just ensure we're all not going overboard on criticism.

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--------------------------------------------------------"The only one that could ever love me..."

Thanks for that. I haven't been able to see a replay of the match, and I was up the other end of the ground. There's an advantage to be had out of taking shots anyway - it prevents the defenders feeling that it's safe to corral a forward while other defenders concentrate on blocking leads. For example, next time we play Brisbane, I wonder if Thornton and the other defenders will be content to corral Brown just outside 50 on the boundary. Doubt it. And that will open up other options for Brown and open up space for his team mates, as well as putting our defenders under psychological pressure. Defenders are much more comfortable playing on forwards who can't or won't pull the trigger, or who are one-sided, or who can't kick productively at goal from over 35m out or from the pockets.

In tennis, there's a similar theme in doubles. The guy at the net will try to cross to poach easy put-away volleys. If you let him, it will keep on happening. Every now and then, you have to go up the tram tracks to make him think. You do it even though it's not the percentage play as you're going over the high part of the net, you have less distance to play with down the line compared to the diagonal, and you open up your side of the court for a volley. You don't care too much if you lose the point. Once the guy at the net knows that you're willing to go down the line, he'll be less willing to take liberties. It's beautifully summed up as "keeping him honest".