Firstly, what sensational pre-season form! Go Blues!

But, with our best defender most likely out until Round 6, how are we going to cover this rapidly improving and extremely important player's absence?

Options as far as I can see are Norman and Morrell - Deluca is a chance on tall forwards, he did so last year - but otherwise it's slim pickings.

This is a real kick in the teeth - Thornton is super valuable. It presents a good opportunity for someone to step up, but Thornton is now easily one of the leagues premier key defenders, and not easily replaced, and I fear now we are exposed with a lack depth in key defence.

Your thoughts?

Thornton is a huge loss Elroy and agree with 2 of your options, namely Morell and Norman. Deluca will be needed more up forward and in the ruck IMO.

2 more that could be considered are Kouta and Prenda and don't be surpreised (particularly if T-Bird is out for longer than expected - don't be surprised if its at least 10-12 weeks) if they try and fast-track Hartlett

Diby will take over the role of minding the oppositions best forward.

Karl in my opinion as at a cross roads and needs to impress in the Bullants as he is clearly not in our best 22 atm.

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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

While Thornton's injury is a massive disappointment, this creates an opportunity for someone else to step up to the plate and show us wht they can do.

I reckon Denis will see this as an opportunity to fast track someone elses development. Karl Norman perhaps?

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Richard Pratt - A Carlton legend.

we play the kangas first round, we will struggle to cover Thompson (197cm), Rocca (194cm) and Petrie (196cm) our tallest defender is Livo at 192cm. I think Diggers or even Prenda will have to move down along with a flood.

I think it will be a interesting year for Teague, teams have worked him out, either play a hard and quick leading foward on him or play him close to the square. Robertson, Hanson have had the better of him.

Norman (at 194.7cm) will have to pull his finger out out and come to the party.

North Melbourne are not blessed with a bevy of tall defenders either - De Luca (at 202cm) will have to play as the 3rd tall forward - to stretch the Roos defence as well.

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"Hence you will not say that Greeks fight like heroes but that heroes fight like Greeks"?

Winston Churchill

Well...Koutafides is and has been a fantastic captain for Carlton and I think now is the time for him to put everything on the line for the next few months while Tbirds out and take the CHB role. If he can get through these next few months rest him up for the last few H&A games and hopefully have a final tilt at what should be his last finals series. GO KOUTA!!!!

Digby and/or Norman must stand up back there now.

having dropped norman i don't think pagan is just gonna bring him back into the side simply cos thornton is out. reckon denis wants to see how badly norman wants it.

at this stage i think denis will try digby at CHB with de luca playing forward. though if karl plays a blinder for the bullants who knows?

kouta's another option at CHB, especially with his lack of match fitness. however, i don't know how well kouta can play in the key positions these days.

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... an eagle flew out of the night. he was something to observe, came in close i heard a voice, bending stretching every nerve, had to listen had no choice ...

If Waite was right to go, I'd look at Waite as the third tall in the forward line with one of DeLuca or Digby as our CHB.

I don't rate Thompson whatsoever, so I don't think he will be a problem.
All Digby has to do is push him under the ball when he is leading and he is rat shit.

Livo can take Sav.

I noticed Teague was on Hansen for a few periods during the final on Saturday night.
Much like the bloke he imitates his game on, Glenn Archer, Teague seems to be able to play much taller than he really is.

Would like to see him go to Petrie.

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Writer for SuperCoach Paige www.scpaige.com.au
Twitter - @johnfeeney24

Key Matchups v Kangaroos

Petrie - An unknown quantity after a great season then a poor one. He can jump, is a great mark, leads hard up the ground. I honestly think Norman would be the best matchup for him.

Rocca- Livingston should take him comfortably. A lead-out-of-the square, old fashioned FF, who, if not tightly held, WILL kick goals if the ball is well delivered.

Thompson- Agree with PJ - He could take Thompson, and I too have never rated him highly at all. But he does have 3-4 games a year when he kicks 5 or 6 - hopefully not this game.

Corey Jones- Dangerous mid-sized forward who can explode if unnattended - Teague would be a good bet

Wells- Sensational player - probably the best on the Kangaroos list. Bannister or Sporn.

Leigh Brown- We could have headaches if Laidley decides to exploit our lack of height down back - DeLuca or Waite might have to cover this big, strong player.

I think in fairness to Teague, Robertson is the sort of player that on his day is very hard to stop. The sort of player where you don't necessarily play that badly on him but he still kicks a bag.

With regard to Hansen, he's 11cm taller than Teague which is a pretty big discrepancy.

We should also remember that Teague, despite his Best and Fairest win, had some games last year where he was beaten, just like any other player, which is part of footy.

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Formerly Blues-Back2003.

Trent Sporn.........!


kindest regards tommi

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that'siti'mnotchangingthistagain......!

The Kouta move to CHB is one that shouldn't be considered. Kouta no longer has the mobility and the move does not play to his strengths. He is a hard ball get guy and his role is and should be extracting the pill in the clearances. Agree with BM, I would play Digby back there. His smart and has clean disposal. I would also drop Barnaby back there to fill the hole where appropriate and play the role of an extra man down back.

Digby isnt that big and he isnt that physical which worries me...I wouldnt sell the kangaroos short and while their three key forwards are unreliable they can all win games and are a lot bigger than our key backs..for that reason I think Norman has to play as insurance and its time he stood up and took his footy seriously.
I'd like to see Norman play on Petrie......we dont want massive mismatches like Teague having to play on Petrie or Thompson....speaking of matchups...lets get the Shannon Grant one right becuase he is a major factor in the roos success and always seems to play well against us...

Carlton's new flooding tactics should greatly assist in the absence of T-bird. While unfortunate it is not to have T-bird out on the park, Carlton's new increase in depth should be able to cover T-birds role.

With this running fast attacking gameplan that the boys have been playing to date, we are less reliant on solely one or two individuals (except maybe Fev )

Throw a player such as Digby, French or Lance down back if need be. Kouta would probably be better getting the clearances. And a big question mark hangs over Karl's head.

hehe, which flooding tactics would they be? Shhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't like Kouta at CHB. He's the best clearance player in the AFL, why wouldn't you have him playing on the ball? If he's not on the ball he should be played on the forward line where he can cause more damage and stretch the opposition backline.

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"The ability to speak doesn't make you intelligent." Qui-Gon Jinn 15-05-2005

"there’s more chance of me becoming the full forward for the [Western Bulldogs] than there is of any change in the Labor Party." Julia Gillard 18-05-2010