View Full Version : You reckon Thorp will get many games this year?
lethalselbow
7 Mar 2008, 08:33
I'm a big wrap for Thorp, but unsure how much game time he'll be getting this year. You reckon he'll be playing much?? :confused: I'm guessing it would depend on how the forwards go - especially Boyle, but I'm hoping he's good for about 10 games minimum for the season.
One thing I'm loving about what Clarkson is doing, is that he is developing players in the Magoo's. I reckon there's a load of players that would have been rushed into many other sides - Bailey, Dowler, Thorp - but they're being given time to develop at a level down. Reminds me of the Hawthorn of old. :thumbsu:
mattie55
7 Mar 2008, 08:46
Givent that he has had a pretty interupted pre season i cant see him playing in the early rounds, let him get form and fitness at box hill and then bring him in mid season for a few games!
I dont think this year will be a break out season for him though, hopefully he plays a handfull of games gets some experience and gets through the year injury free ready for a big pre season and big year in 2009.
Im not writing him of for this season as he could surprise me and be a star but i reckon with all the injury troubles he has had no need to rush him and let him develop slowly and will be better in the future.
lethalselbow
7 Mar 2008, 08:53
Doh! Didn't realise his pre-season was interrupted. What was the problem BTW?
Had hip problems from the end of last year I believe - should have Boyle's spot by halfway through the year if he progresses well IMO
mattie55
7 Mar 2008, 09:29
Yeah he had post season hip surgury and has taken a while to recover so has put him back a little but, i guess we will see how he goes tonight..
If we assume that in most big games we will use 3 big men up forward then the main candidates in my opinion are Buddy --> Boyle/Roughy --> Thorp/Dowler.
The problem for Thorp/Dowler as 1st reserves is that all of the above are young and improving.
Barring injury I would not expect Thorp to get many games this year.
Collins-Langford-Ayres
7 Mar 2008, 10:06
If we assume that in most big games we will use 3 big men up forward then the main candidates in my opinion are Buddy --> Boyle/Roughy --> Thorp/Dowler.
The problem for Thorp/Dowler as 1st reserves is that all of the above are young and improving.
Barring injury I would not expect Thorp to get many games this year.
If he's fit, I think he will, particularly in the second half. Poor pre-seasons never help though. Possibly 10 games for mine.
The Messenger
7 Mar 2008, 11:46
I think he might play a few games at FB and CHB this year. Similar to Roughie, give him a taste of the big time down back and let him ease into it. Was a very good defender as a junior and played a lot down back for Tassie in the VFL. I think this would be a good option for his development as well as giving us an extra tall defender.
May be an option for this year rather than pushing Roughie back.
I think he might play a few games at FB and CHB this year. Similar to Roughie, give him a taste of the big time down back and let him ease into it. Was a very good defender as a junior and played a lot down back for Tassie in the VFL. I think this would be a good option for his development as well as giving us an extra tall defender.
May be an option for this year rather than pushing Roughie back.
That may have been an option in 2005-2006, but we're not at that stage any more. Our club is challenging for finals.
If Thorp plays(which he will) he'll be a third tall, getting experience in the forward half.
willotheshooter
7 Mar 2008, 12:56
I saw him down in Tassie and was struck at how skinny he is still.
I reckon 2008 will be a big year for development in the 2s and bulking up, working towards being big and fit and ready to challenge for a permanent spot in '09, barring injury of course (though then there's still Dowler who, physically, is further along than Thorp.)
The Cryptkeeper
7 Mar 2008, 13:11
18-20.
Once he gets himself into the side, he can forget his roadmap to Box Hill.
Brown Blood
7 Mar 2008, 13:29
18-20.
Once he gets himself into the side, he can forget his roadmap to Box Hill.
Thats a big call Ck - hope you're right as it would indicate he would be well on his way (BTW how many finals are you factoring in :)).
The way boyle is going he will be in sooner rather than later.
KingRich
7 Mar 2008, 14:46
I think the fact of the matter is he needs to get some runs on the board with Box Hill. He has had one good game for BH and hasn't set the world on fire in the others. He needs to string a few strong performances together in the twos to earn his stripes before he is even considered. Boyle has earned his spot at this stage.
Thorp has a reputation as a gun junior but needs to step up in the VFL before he would be considered. I would like to think if he is as good as other posters say then he could get a few games this year.
GNCLongJack
7 Mar 2008, 15:51
12 games
ditto:cool:
kirbatron
7 Mar 2008, 16:03
I'd like to see him come in around Rd 10-12 and not go back to BH. Forever.
Dixie Flatline
7 Mar 2008, 16:32
I think the fact of the matter is he needs to get some runs on the board with Box Hill. He has had one good game for BH and hasn't set the world on fire in the others. He needs to string a few strong performances together in the twos to earn his stripes before he is even considered. Boyle has earned his spot at this stage.
Thorp has a reputation as a gun junior but needs to step up in the VFL before he would be considered. I would like to think if he is as good as other posters say then he could get a few games this year.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but Thorp played for Tasmania in the VFL before being drafted by Hawthorn. Indeed, I seem to recall Thorp being played at both ends of the ground and occasionally pinch-hitting in the ruck.
Reflector19
8 Mar 2008, 22:58
Thorp will win the NAB Rising Star in 2008, in my opinion.
Reflector19
8 Mar 2008, 23:00
I think the fact of the matter is he needs to get some runs on the board with Box Hill. He has had one good game for BH and hasn't set the world on fire in the others. He needs to string a few strong performances together in the twos to earn his stripes before he is even considered. Boyle has earned his spot at this stage.
Thorp has a reputation as a gun junior but needs to step up in the VFL before he would be considered. I would like to think if he is as good as other posters say then he could get a few games this year.
Thorp had a good season for BH last year, aside from a few injury concerns. Hawthorn didn't pick him for his senior debut last year just for a laugh. He kicked 6 goals in one game for BH last year, and had several other games where he bagged multiple goals. What he needs is a good run with injury, and his class will shine through.
Hodge2Franklin
9 Mar 2008, 05:10
I reckon Boyle will surprise people this year. The NAB games have been tough for our forwards but Boyle looks fit and is very important for us. This is really only his second season and he already looks like having a great year again.
As for Thorp how can you not love this bloke? He oozes charisma, arrogance and talent. He is like the missing link and surely has to play forward? Where are we gonna fit them all in because Dowler has to get a spot too. Seeing him fit and ready is mouth watering for us.
It's a boring question but WHO is gonna go back :eek::eek::eek:
Out of Thorp, Dowler, Roughead and Boyle surely one of them is ear-marked for the backline, to allow possibly Brown, Dawson and Gilham to play more loose and attacking/support roles. Reckon those three will really flourish with another big guy down back and am licking my lips at the moment.
Leather Poisoning
9 Mar 2008, 08:19
I reckon Boyle will surprise people this year. The NAB games have been tough for our forwards but Boyle looks fit and is very important for us. This is really only his second season and he already looks like having a great year again.
As for Thorp how can you not love this bloke? He oozes charisma, arrogance and talent. He is like the missing link and surely has to play forward? Where are we gonna fit them all in because Dowler has to get a spot too. Seeing him fit and ready is mouth watering for us.
It's a boring question but WHO is gonna go back :eek::eek::eek:
Out of Thorp, Dowler, Roughead and Boyle surely one of them is ear-marked for the backline, to allow possibly Brown, Dawson and Gilham to play more loose and attacking/support roles. Reckon those three will really flourish with another big guy down back and am licking my lips at the moment.
If you look at Roughy, Buddy and Boyle in the pre-season they all looked out of touch. Boyle looked worse because he was given a lot of time as the go-to full-forward, and because so many people expect/want him to **** up.
I made the call after the Adelaide game that I think Boyle might be 'back'. I always get pretty excited after watching hawthorn, so some will think I'm just being premature - but we have to keep in mind that Boyle will have Roughead AND Franklin next to him in the season proper.
Clarko put him as the main leading forward to push him back into touch and by round 1 I hope he'll be looking good.
As for Thorp - I think they'll find a spot for him by about round 6. I seriously think we're going to change our 4-man forward line this year. In the first quarter against Sydney our forward line looked scary with Buddy and Willo across half-forward.
So if we have Buddy and Willo across half-forward, Roughy as the stay-at-home power forward and Boyle as the main leading target, I think there might be room in there for a crumber and a thorp/dowler?
If anyone is going to develop down back I want it to be Renouf. He's got the main thing a defender needs and that is bucketloads of courage.