Let me start this post by re-assuring everyone that for not one second am i anti thornton or anti fisher. Both are good young talents, who, in an ideal world, we would keep on our list....but...
Let me start with T-Bird. Like i said, i am not anti Thornton, if you actually check back i was pushing for his inclusion in the captaincy threads this time last year...anyway, to my point...
Bret Thornton, from day one, has been forced to play on the number one forward from every team in the AFL. From Matthew Lloyd to Alistair Lynch to David Neitz to Barry Hall to Matthew Richardson. Now T-Birds record against at least one of these players is in his favour, but in his defence, he has NEVER had the body or the tools required to hold down the full back position. Bret Thornton is a running, rebounding half back flanker who, due to his size and a lack of options was unwittingly thrust into the worst defense in the league. He has done well in a backline that is constantly under a barrage of attack, and although we have copped some mighty floggings and he has played in very few winning teams, every week he gives 110%. HOWEVER...i do believe that Bret Thornton is not the defensive giant that he is being made out to be...
Playing as the second defender in a team with a recognised full back such as Brian Harris or Darren Glass or Leo Barry or Matthew Scarlett, T-Bird would excel. He would be able to take 2nd, perhaps 3rd string forward and would be able to run off and be a very creative play maker.
My point is, if it is Carlton Football Clubs plan to keep Bret Thornton at full back for the rest of his career then i dont think he will be at Carlton Football Club next year.
From what i have seen and heard, if he can get his body right, Carlton have a lot of hope resting on one Adam Hartlett. Manfred the Mammoth (hartlett) is more than capable of fulfilling the role that Bret Thornton is currently playing within the Carlton defence. Just look at Carltons only wizard cup game this year. Sure it was only Kent Kingsley but Kent kicked over 5 goals from memory on t-bird in two quarters while he managed only two on manfred.
Now if Bret was to play alongside Mafred and Hartlett was given the number one defender, which, based on what i have seen so far, he is capable of, then we would have a formiddable defence, but is that what the match committee and coach have planned?
So should we re-sign T-Bird? By all means.
Would we miss him if he left? It all depends on Hartlett/ or the draft-trade period.
now onto the fish....
Again i am not anti-fisher but the fish has let me down. I was full of hope for Fish and thought he would be the next great forward at Carlton...then the dreaded knee injury. Since his return, something has been a little off. Sure he is an amazing mark, he has reasonably good speed, but oh my god, his kicking....
And it isnt just his kicking....look at our forward line at the moment and in the future..
we have: Fevola, Kennedy, Waite, Deluca and potentially Whitnall, are we in desperate need of a tall marking foward??? As i said, i am not Anti-fish and think in a team like Brisbane, he could really dominate, but i'm just not sure where he fits in our forward line structure. A couple of times this year i have seen him look very tired on the field and just like his heart wasnt in it.
Fish is one of those players, a lot like Waite, where you have seen a glimpse of what they are capable of but they frustrate the hell out fo you because you HAVE seen what they are capable of but they dont live up to it. I want more from Fish, i want him sailing across packs on the 50meter line and taking down a huge grab. i want him lining up for goal and not having to cringe, and i know he isnt the only one who is guilty of it, but unfortunately for Fish, he is the one who is out of contract!
So for Fish...
Should we resign the fish?-probably
Will we miss him if he goes?-i dont think so
Will we get something good from a trade?-certainly. Trade to geelong and ask for Joel Corey. Or an early 2nd round draft pick.
So thats what i meant.....
_________________ Back like a raging case of pubic lice
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