Just a thought (probably ridiculous)...

Assuming we didn't have a lack of key defenders (let's say Mal Michael and Matthew Scarlett have just arrived at the club) how would Thornton go as a CHF.

Obviously Waite is being groomed for that role (but let's assume he's injured). I'm more curious as to what people see as deficiencies that T-Bird would have to overcome to play there.

We've played him back from the beginning due to desperation. Anyone ever seen him play more than a couple of minutes in a forward line?

That's not as crazy as some people would think, G-Dub.

Thornton took an awesome grab up forward against the Hawks two weeks ago. For those of you playing at home, it was when Whitnall broought down a Hawthorn player who was caught holding the ball. Whitnall played on and delivered the ball to Thornton perfectly.

Unfortunately, Thornton wasn't allowed the mark and Lance had to have his kick again.

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Kouta when he wins the contested ball.
I'd never even thought of Thornton up forward but I like it. SOS would probably have been a forward if we didn't have Kernahan.

Maybe I'm missing something, but everybody has missed the most consistent, versatile, reliable and inspirational player on our list. Let me give you some hints. Could have left the club when last out of contract, but showed true loyalty. He rarely has a poor game. He plays back, midfield and forward. Always puts his head over the pill. Punches well above his weight. All Australian a season ago. Was everybodys favourite for the club B&F last year. Whilst built like a wet rag (Ken Hunter) will be one of our cornerstones for at least 4 more years. He is the example that the kids need to look up to and say to themselves if this bony little bastard can do what he does week after week, then with my natural ability, skills and muscular body, I can also lead us out of the friggin wilderness. The real leader in question is????

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Scott Camporeale.

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sparkability
eddie (not yet though)
fevola (also needs the right team around him i.e can't do it on his own e.g Carey)


build a side around
thornton
waite
walker

Interestingly, very little promise on someone being able to do both...maybe, just maybe if fevola matured you could build a side and also have him ste the spark. Walker - only time will tell if he will be able to set a game on fire, rather than just being a 200 gamer.

what do you think Denis would be looking to recruit the most of at the moment - spark or bob the builder?

I guess herein lies the problem at Carlton.

We have a list of honest triers and battlers but no real superstars of the future - yet.

3 or 4 years ago I thought Whitnall would be the guy to build our future around, now I'm not so sure. I'm not saying get rid of him for I believe he will be a 250 game player - but he won't be a superstar, not now.

Thornton is probably our best bet.

To be honest, I think Denis is still looking for that player as well. It's a real pity Hartlett got injured for I felt he could have been playing by now.

The great Carlton sides of the past always had a go-to CHF be it Walls, Maclure or Kernahan.

I feel until we find or unearth another our chances of consistently being in the finals will be limited.

It's one of the reasons Geelong went after Ottens so hard. Good CHF's win you Grand Finals at the MCG. It's why Collingwood have failed so miserably over the past 40 years!

Yeah unfortunately I agree with Surrey. I think the guys that Synbad is talking about are guys like Tredrea, Johnathon Brown, Riewoldt, and the like. We don't have a player like this, a player who can simply take the game by the scruff of the neck. We did but he is no longer the player he was. Damn knees...

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It starts right, it swings back... WHAT A GOAL! Ohhhh you'd want to be on the Blues now.

Well Whits sparked the boys up beautifully during our wins against Essendon* and Hawthorn. Kouta and Campo nearly got us over the line against Port.

If you want to be a side from scratch then at the moment only, Thorton and Waite fit the bill.

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L.M 35-06

Why do we need someone to build our team around? We should strive for a champion team. Ok at North Pagan had Carey who was a freak footballer. But the attitude that he instilled in them is still around. Guys like Archer and Stevo command respect and they arent the most flashy. All we need is a solid team that can put in a 4 qtr performance.

And no future stars? Walker, Waite, Thornton will all be future leaders. And if Fevs stays he will be a linchpin.

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Teague - sheer courage

Betts - but needs to do some more this year

Whitnall - can be as inspiring a leader as anyone on the team on the right day, just not often enough.

Thornton is becoming more of that sort of player - has a real confidence up back now, and his passion is sensational - if our "leadership" group had half that passion, we'd be sitting top four right now!

I'm gonna throw in Davies here... - anyone who saw his effort when we snatched back the game against the Pies last year can't question that!

Walker - Cant wait till he's 20 - he'll be brilliant and there'll be some flashes this year and more next year - just needs the body to match the mind and a bit more experience, but geeze, he reminds me of Whitnall in his younger days the way he controls himself when he's got a tad of room.

Jarrad Waite. This guys is something special and is all heart. He'll be a legend for the Club, no doubt and I'm thinking the next number I put on the back of a Carlton guernsey will have to be 30.

Setanta - cant wait to see this guy blossom - I believe he will be a serviceable footballer, but will be an inspiration for the team. Surely he must already be a bit of a hero on the training track if what I've read here and elsewhere is anything to go by?

Kouta - knocked far too much and would have to be an inspiration for the younger players - just needs a bit more passion about the way he does things at the moment, rather than being Carlton's frontman all the time, in terms of PR / media etc.

Great thread - enjoyed the contributions here!

Rich

I think the fact that Eddie Betts has been mentioned by five people as someone we can build a team around shows how much trouble we're in.

Name me a top eight team (let alone premiership team) which has been built around a player with one trick, ie spectacular goals from the boundary line.

Closest is P. Daicos and Eddie Betts is no Daicos

We have Thornton, we have Fevola, we have Waite. I reckon they would be the only players that would walk into other teams (cept Kouta).

I know I am sounding like a wet rag but the guy that would answer Synbads ???? would of been L.A

I AM SO PEEVED HE DID WHAT HE DID

However saying that the two for me would be Waite and Thornton

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Lappin.

Didn't play- suspended.

Houla just about did though.

What a stealer! That was my idea last year!!!!!!

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I know he didn't play BW, but given the way some carry on about how negetative he is in the context of "Team' I thught that Campo not playing was a positive for sure. I can just imagine the other players ran out thinking "Gee I am glad that selfish money hungry downhill skiing dive artist is not playing. I'll show him how a real footballer plays'

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A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty" -Winston Churchill

L.M 35-06

As Pagan said, it´s about structure. Most sides in the top 8 have something similar to a Betts type player:
- StKilda: Milne
- WCE: Matera
- Freo: Medhurst, Farmer
- Geel: Ablett
- Melb: Daveys

... now I know Betts cant mark like Medhurst etc. ... but all these players primary role (some serve others) in the forward line is to use their speed and evasion to (i) kick goals from wuçinning the ball once it has hit the deck and (ii) keep it in the forward 50.

Remember, he is only 18 and out of our four 17 and 18 year olds from this year´s drafting he is the only one to make an impression despite probably being the smallest. Let him strengthen up and put on 5 kg. and this kid will be a serious gun because I believe he can take a grab, he´s just too light at the moment. There´s nothing to say he wont develop to be at least the equal of any of those players, he´s got the talent, has he got the mental application? We´ll see.

He had a terrific last quarter against the Hawks too.. Probably won that game because he was the difference.
Maybe theres a pattern there???


Ok so weve established we dont have that many players that can have a real positive effect to the team.
We also have very few A grade players.. but were hoping to play finals and win premierships... interesting....

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Whitnall is the only guy who, when he gets a goal or two at crucial moments, runs around and gees the guys up with come-ons etc.

When he is in form and doing his stuff he is an incredibly influential and inspirational player. He WAS that bloke in some of the Wizard cup games.

Unfortunately, he goes missing for large chunks of games and seasons and he only seems to pop up for a few minutes here and there.

Give Waite another couple of big games and we'll see him as the new "barometer" - if Jarrad can fire up and make a few freak things happen the boys might start to believe in themselves.