I've also seen him move the ball on very quickly of recent times. That wasn't there on Friday, but it was promising. He's just as new at this system of play as some of our younger types.

Having said that, I don't think it's an overly complex system of play yet.

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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.

Thornton - OMFG - If he is our best defender god help us.

Slow, poor kick, can't read the play, spectator, would be more use to Carlton sitting in the stands.

I can't understand how he was given a new contract.

Being top 3 in the comp for marks from opposition kicks would indicate otherwise.

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"You are being watched. The government has a secret system. A machine that spies on you every hour of every day. I know because I built it." - Finch

..not winning the blues sprint, but not the slowest either.. .i'd say avg paced.. ..has been great reading the play and directing traffic in the D50, also great at zoning off to help his fellow defenders.. ..don't think he's a spectator at all, and he's a fairly reliable kick.. ..can be at times a little slow to move the ball on, but that's as much him, as it is his team mates not presenting him with viable options to kick to.. ..we know he's great at intercepting incoming passes, there should be either a runner, or a penetrating kicker near him to help out..

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..if you can't be good, be good at it..

Well #$#@# me. How many times is it that his opponent, kicks a goal?

He never covers the goal line, too busy blind turning.

Poor sod just played in his 100th loss - in 143 games:

http://www.blueseum.org/tiki-index.php? ... 17%2C+2009

From the Blueseum

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Check out www.blueseum.org for all of your Carlton information needs.

..you're kidding right..?.. ..how many times is a goal kicked on jamo, or waitey, or any other defender..?.. ..as for covering the goal line, i didn't realise Thorny was used as a 'stay at home FB'..

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..if you can't be good, be good at it..

Good to see some support for T-Bird. He has had his dummy spits but I defy anyone to go through that amount of stress and not show it one way or another. A fine servant of the club.

To all the critics - get a grip (on something else, you'll go blind!)

For real being a top-class defender is a rather thankless job. If you have 20 marking contests and win 15, but the 5 lost contents resulted in goals you've been beaten badly on paper.

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#23: Lachlan Henderson

Maybe M&D should interview him about that?

Tick.

I agree.

He should stay at Fremantle and we should never ever try and lure him to Carlton.

As for our Thornton, he has enough pace to go with his man, and is a great reader of the play (see all AFL stats). He's also a very good mark; a by product of his ability to read the play.

I just wish our playes upfield ran harder into spaces to give Thornton options upfield because he can deliver well by foot. Poor bastard has to go sideways to open an exit passage out of defense.

Our Thornton should end up in the Top 5 in our B & F in 2009.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Thornton has been great for us, been holding our backline together for years, since he was a teenager. Cant understand the negative talk about him, I am rapt he re-signed again.

Been a good player since coming in as a teenager -if anyone deservered to be scarred its this guy playing in a backline in a defence that leaked like a sieve for about 5 years - gutsy game tonight and good to see him slot through some goals - a reliable mark and kick

Doesnt get as much credit as he should - backline always look better when he is in it - like the fact that he has been tried up forward - if Jamo comes back in - maybe a plan B if forward line is too one dimensional

If..???

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"Truth, for the tyrants, is the most terrible and cruel of all bindings; it is like an incandescent iron falling across their chests. And it is even more agonizing than hot iron, for that only burns the flesh, while truth burns its way into the soul"     — Lauro Aguirre

Showed a bit up forward tonight - should do his shoulder more often!

Laughed when I saw him punch the ball 20m from CHF

The first time I saw him was a practice match against WCE at Visy.

He gave someone a bit of a clip and 2 WCE players got into him.

Didn't worry him at all, in fact he burst out laughing.

I remember thinking '' Aha I like this kid''.

Was also the first time I saw Andrew Eccles and David Gallagher, so you could say Bret was a standout

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The problem with Socialism is, you eventually run out of other people's money.

Doubled his career goals last night.

Awesome effort by Bret, especially that diving mark in the third. The pain was obviously huge, but he kicked true.

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And so while others miserably pledge themselves to the pursuit of ambition and brief power, I will be stretched out in the shade, singing.

He kicked two goals that day also.

That game was also known for the handing over of the batton, Kouta to Judd.

I know T-bird cops his fair share (fair enough at times too), but I'm one of those on his bandwagon.

He's not perfect, but he's ours. He showed last night that he has what it takes to play through some pretty serious pain for our club. He's passionate, he wears his heart on his sleeve and he doesn't make an arse of himself off the field.

Thanks Bret.

GO BLUES!!!

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