Why not Thornton?

[Dennis]

I see the light

Take a leaf out of the Lynch book and go from great FB to even better FF

Gold

 

[GordonBlue]

People seem to be echoing "if it aint broken don't mess with it"... and I agree that Thornton is an integral part to our defence. However when Richo was playing in a KPP role... he was doing his job just fine and was the tiges forward line... but "even so late in his career" moving him to the midfield on a wing position completely revolutionised what this bloke can do and not only single handed almost put tiges into the finals... but finished runners up...

I know that Richo is a freak and not many players can do what he did... but the idea of "don't tinker with something working relatively well" is not always the best option. In footy you always need to be ahead of other teams if you really want to excel... It seems like every year there is a game plan, a player repositioning, a concentration on a particular skill or rule that seems to put teams ahead.. it worth taking risks and imo trialling (and if successful leaving) Thornton forward should our forward formula not be working in the early weeks.

 

[Jezza U Beauty]

I see no reason why T-Bird couldn't have the odd spell up forward.

Plenty of other talls have done/do it.

IIRC he was swung forward on one occasion against Richmond and had a shot or two at goal, and looked like he knew what he was doing up there.

Flexibility is a handy thing.

People have mentioned his goalkicking as a weakness, but this would likely improve with a bit of experience - he's pretty reliable at hitting teammates with footpasses under pressure so he more than likely has the mental strength to kick straight for goal under pressure.

 

[Ricksta13]

I have been saying we should be playing Thornton forward or at least rotate him from the backline to the forward line every now and again for the last 2 years!

Whats wrong with this:

B: Russell, Jamison, Scotland
HB: Bower, Waite, Gibbs
C: Carrazzo, Simpson, Grigg
HF: Robinson, Henderson, O'hAilpin
F: Betts, Kreuzer, Thornton

Foll: Warnock, Judd, Murphy

INT: Hampson, Yarran, Joseph, Walker

Maybe we could swap Thornton and Waite to give them both a shot up forward depending on who we are playing that week, for instance when we play Brisbane, Thornton can play defence to help stop Brown and Fev along with Jamison, Bower and Russell, but when we play say Essendon who dont really have a key Full Forward Thornton could play more up the ground and be an attacking weapon for us with Bower, Jamison, Waite and Russell doing the defending on more of a smaller forward line.

 

[Bluebear]

Maybe we are right not to back our players but I think it's a weakness in our coaches mentality.
The reason I wouldn't send him forward is because with Waite, Henderson and O'hAilpin I don't think we need it, if those guys happen to struggle some time then by all means swing him forward. Perhaps swing Waite back and him forward at times.

So if he doesn't back the defenders (Jammo, Bower, Aussie) to do a job without T-bird then the coach is mentally weak.......but if he doesn't back the forwards to do a job (Hendo, Waite, Setant) then its fine to replace them with T-bird?

Before you start throwing "mentally weak" at people, make sure your arguement makes sense.
Using your logic I could say not backing our forwards to do their job without T-birds help is a weak mentality.

 

[Faz 2000]

Waite's leap in the ruck could prove key, as may Betts' closing speed at fullback and Murphy can expand on last year's goalkicking efforts from CHF.

 

[trossa]

Spent a little bit of time up forward in 2009 and done really well. But would rather him in defense where he is becoming one of the games better players.

 

[Jesaulenko. You Beauty]

Haha just remembered a couple of shots I've seen him take in the past... Its quite clear why he's a defender. Although swapping him and Waite is a brilliant idea. I don't know how many of you actually play the game but I personally hate playing back line. Swap him forward every now and then he'll be a happier player, and happier players will give more for the team.

On top of that, I think Waite is one of our best defenders and it would be valuable to the backline to have him playing there occasionally.

 

[OldBlueFan]

My main thing about it all this is remembering how solid we were in the Sexton/SOS/Dean days. Those guys had such an understanding of one another that they made up a great defensive unit. Only SOS ever went forward from that group and only rarely.

I'd like to see that develop again with Jamison, Thornton, Bower and Russell.

 

[rundennisrun]

definitly agreed thornton is no longer our no 1 backmen IMO probably closer to our 4th or 5th

 

[CrippsonBlue]

Although we need to find a structure that works up forward, messing with our structures from other parts of the ground is not the answer, and will just weaken us further.

Having Thornton up forward will not outweigh the benefits of having a strong unified backline, who each understand one another.

We're building a killer combo back there; soon enough our backline, in combination with our midfield, should lessen our worries with our forward 50.

 

[DarkTint]

Thornton is the leader of our backline, like it or not.

He is the most experienced, he's been through the most pain. He is the leader.

His greatest asset in IMO is his ability to read the play and drop in the space where the opposition is trying to kick the ball. Then hypothetically our small hbf's/wingers should be spreading/running past giving him options. He has the composure and disposal to use those options more often than not.

I'm sure we might see him forward in 1 or 2 games in the last quarter if it's a lost cause but other than that he will be roaming our def 50m arc.

 

[BlueMania]

We really do need the man plying his trade down back but I believe it could also be a useful option with Waite coming back into the team. A bit of flexibility would be very handy indeed.