A banner is a bad idea. Hopefully the guy has the resolve over the preseason to pull his finger out and return to form. A back injury is a bugger to recover from. I wish him luck because he could be useful next year. I also hope he doesn't get a game this year though.
I'd like to see Hayden come in. Thornton should be dropped for Johnson. Thornton is too easily beat and is an excellent rebounder. The problem is that i'd prefer a 180cm Hayden rebounding than a 191cm Thornton. Leave the rebounding to the smalls and the defending to the talls. Johnson is a better defender than Thornton and Hayden a better rebounder.
If Connolly is leaving Gilmore out due to his poor man-on-man capabilities he should have a good look at Thornton's last few games.
The team against WCE.
F: Medhurst McPharlin Farmer
HF: Crowley Pavlich Schammer
C: M.Carr J.Carr Black
HB: Dodd Polak Walker
B: Hayden Johnson Parker
R: Sandilands Bell Hasleby
Int: Cook Mundy Longmuir Grover
Pretty solid looking team. Our defence doesn't have any gaping deficiencies. Midfield is absolutely jam packed with runners, as is the defence (Hayden, Walker, Dodd and M.Carr playing in the back 6). Hayden and Walker can rebound from defence and mop up when necessary.
Crowley Dodd and J.Carr to tag. Hasleby, Bell, Schammer, M.Carr and Black to be creative Midfielders. Pavlich and McPharlin to create headaches up forward with solid contributions from Farmer and Medhurst keeping Wirrapunda and Chick honest. Longmuir playing forward could cause problems.
In the last term when the game is there to be won. Longmuir or Johnson could be permanently placed in the forward line. Giving us 3 tall options in the forward line and stretching there defence.