Toast Bret Thornton

[De Iulio2Wiggins]

Haven't seen too much love for T-Bird in the votes, but I thought he played a crucial role as a defensive forward when he went onto Lake, who looked like he was set for a 30 possession, 20 mark game in the first quarter. For Thornton to end up with more possessions than Lake and a couple of goals was a pretty huge effort IMHO.

Thornton gets a bad rap for past output and attitude, but he's turned this around in the last year or so, and with Waite out, I can't work out why he isn't the first choice in the forward line each week. Mitchell (huge effort yesterday!) is still coming on, and the way I see it, it's currently Waite > Thornton > Mitchell for full forward rotations every day of the week.

The bloke's kicked 3 goals a week in a piss-poor VFL side, and better than a goal a game with limited exposure in the AFL. He's our second-most experienced player and still has at least two good years in him, barring injury. I think it's time we drew a line through his past efforts (it must have been fairly psychologically shattering to play as our #1/ #2 defender in the mid '00s) and give the bloke a fresh slate. Let's not forget that Carrazzo was seen as a turnover machine on here, up until about two years ago, and he's gone on to become an integral midfielder.

 

[Cringle]

Id have in the team anyday of the week. Third tall forward suits him most, though when Waite comes back in for a game or two before he injures himself again, he'll go back to the Northern Blues.

 

[JB12]

Can't understand why he hasn't been in the team. He battled hard in the ruck, kicked a few goals and most importantly made Lake accountable.

Also, his flexibility is a real asset

 

[T2B_]

My dad tears his hair out every time T-Bird is dropped and would have him in the team every week.

I agree, unless there's some match-up problem or Bret has really done something worthy of being dropped. But otherwise, he's a very handy and experienced swing-man.

 

[blue gunslinger]

Bloody TBird- lost out twice. no dummy spit and good kicking for goals. Dammmmmn you

 

[The_Wookie]

A goal a game? He kicked 3 against GWS, and no more than 1 against anyone else until yesterday (inlcuding not scoring at all against Brisbane or Freo). He CANNOT backup ruck. 3 hitouts to half time? Half the time he wasnt even jumping.

His reputation for spitting the dummy is deserved. Not to mention reports of him abusing team mates in the reserves (unconfirmed by me at least).

We have to delist 3 at the end of the year, and Thorntons contract is up end of the season. It will not be renewed IMO.

 

[koutamarto]

Where was he in the first half. Im not joking and im not denying his influence in the 2nd half but I was in the car on the way home and said to the Mrs "is thornton playing" I honestly thought he must have been a late out, as I had not heard his name called. 30 seconds later he kicked his first goal.

 

[zeeCFC]

Could have lost us the game with that deliberate rush behind, very stupid player sometimes. His papers are no doubt stamped. I want him to play next week but wouldn't be surprised if Mitchell comes in.

 

[T2B_]

I forgot about that rushed behind... what on earth was he thinking

 

[bluerooster]

Have we had a target the last few weeks apart from Eddie???? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, what happens when we dont have a genuine marking chance it demoralises everyone, especially players like Garlett who are confidence players. Thornton must be played he reads it well and can mark it or bring it to ground he must be played.

 

[The_Wookie]

Have we had a target the last few weeks apart from Eddie???? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, what happens when we dont have a genuine marking chance it demoralises everyone, especially players like Garlett who are confidence players. Thornton must be played he reads it well and can mark it or bring it to ground he must be played.

Oh i left this part out too.

Of the 5 goals in 5 matches he got before last night, not only were 3 against GWS..he would have only kicked 2, and gone goaless against Richmond in round 1 if it wasnt for HAMPSON taking marks and handballing in the square.

Hes serviceable. He is not the answer. If Henderson and Waite are fit, Thornton will be out so fast it will be unbelievable.

 

[bluerooster]

I agree, but they arent so he must be played.

Oh i left this part out too.

Of the 5 goals in 5 matches he got before last night, not only were 3 against GWS..he would have only kicked 2, and gone goaless against Richmond in round 1 if it wasnt for HAMPSON taking marks and handballing in the square.

Hes serviceable. He is not the answer. If Henderson and Waite are fit, Thornton will be out so fast it will be unbelievable.

 

[De Iulio2Wiggins]

I forgot about that rushed behind... what on earth was he thinking

The rushed behind was a bad call from the umpire : "since 2009, it has been illegal in AFL matches for a defender to deliberately concede a rushed behind when he is not under any pressure from the attacking team." I admit I gotta watch the match again today, but Thornton had a Bulldog right on his tail.

Not going to say he's ever going to be more than serviceable, but in the absence of Waite he generally gets the ball to ground at least. Betts especially marks taller than his height, but how many times have he and Garlett been expected to outmark someone six inches taller, and got carved up in the process? Both of Bett's goals came off the spill, it's where he is most dangerous.

 

[The_Wookie]

The rushed behind was a bad call from the umpire : "since 2009, it has been illegal in AFL matches for a defender to deliberately concede a rushed behind when he is not under any pressure from the attacking team." I admit I gotta watch the match again today, but Thornton had a Bulldog right on his tail.

Not going to say he's ever going to be more than serviceable, but in the absence of Waite he generally gets the ball to ground at least. Betts especially marks taller than his height, but how many times have he and Garlett been expected to outmark someone six inches taller, and got carved up in the process? Both of Bett's goals came off the spill, it's where he is most dangerous.

I dont think pressure counts when you turn around and handball it through fronm 15 metres out.

 

[T2B_]

If he ran with it an extra 10 metres I reckon he would have been okay but from that far out it just looked far too blatant and unnecessary.

 

[blue gunslinger]

I dont think pressure counts when you turn around and handball it through fronm 15 metres out.

exactly-had other options. Cannot argue with that one

 

[Bell Ringer]

Oh i left this part out too.

Of the 5 goals in 5 matches he got before last night, not only were 3 against GWS..he would have only kicked 2, and gone goaless against Richmond in round 1 if it wasnt for HAMPSON taking marks and handballing in the square.

Hes serviceable. He is not the answer. If Henderson and Waite are fit, Thornton will be out so fast it will be unbelievable.

He hit the post twice against the Tiges and took 7 marks as a lead-up fwd. Nice selective posting

If Waite is fit the world has come to and end so we'll have bigger concerns than football.

 

[The_Wookie]

He hit the post twice against the Tiges and took 7 marks as a lead-up fwd. Nice selective posting

If Waite is fit the world has come to and end so we'll have bigger concerns then football.

I was responding directly to posts about his goalkicking. Dont care about his marking if he isnt scoring as a forward in that instance. He may as well be taking marks off the half back flank in that scenario.

 

[Bell Ringer]

If he ran with it an extra 10 metres I reckon he would have been okay but from that far out it just looked far too blatant and unnecessary.

True, but I'm pretty sure the rule doesn't make any mention of distance from goal when rushing the behind.

Umpires love paying those ones - gets people talking about them.

 

[blue gunslinger]

True, but I'm pretty sure the rule doesn't make any mention of distance from goal when rushing the behind.

Umpires love paying those ones - gets people talking about them.

you think distance should be inversely related to brain cells available to person making decision?

 

[Bell Ringer]

I was responding directly to posts about his goalkicking.

Yet are trying to discount his 3 goals v GWS when, without them, we would have struggled to kick a winning score.

Giving Thorton a 1yr deal for 2013 is better list management than giving Waite a 3yr deal at the end of 2011.

Bower should be cut before Thornton.

 

[bluerooster]

People bagging Thornton please answer these two questions honestly and you will see we need T-Bird while we dont have any other option being Waite or Henderson (though i am more confident in T-Birds marking to Hendo's).

What have we been missing big time time since Waite hasgone down?

What did thornton provide last night especially in the second half when we ran over the top of the dogs?

 

[Dramoth]

Could have lost us the game with that deliberate rush behind, very stupid player sometimes. His papers are no doubt stamped. I want him to play next week but wouldn't be surprised if Mitchell comes in.

Squidda needs another week in the reserves... Thornton to retain his spot. Bower out for knockers

 

[The_Wookie]

People bagging Thornton please answer these two questions honestly and you will see we need T-Bird while we dont have any other option being Waite or Henderson (though i am more confident in T-Birds marking to Hendo's).

Which I did say, as soon as either or both are back he'll be gone. He's a backup, but he's not part of the clubs future, and after recent efforts from our second tier players, we'd have to all agree that the time has come to continue to invest time and games into our depth players. We've all been sitting here bemoaning our depth...because for the last 2 seasons we've played the "top 22" plus our usual backup players - inevitably one of the ruckmen, thornton and a lucky ants player.

What have we been missing big time time since Waite hasgone down?

An tall, unselfish half forward who takes a crap load of marks and is hard at the contest? Cant see that back yet.[/quote]

 

[Jimthegreat]

To win a flag, and make no mistkae, despite this year the window is open, you must 30+players that can come and play well at anytime in a season. Thornton is one of those. It's not just about your best 22, it's yoor best 32. Good depth is just as important as having a good best 22.