Thornton anyone?

[Big Punt]

At 22 yo and 193cm, Thornton could be the serviceable defender we need. Wonder if Miller has shown any interest?

Thornton, Fisher at odds with Blues
Stephen Rielly
September 20, 2006

KEY-POSITION Blues Bret Thornton and Brad Fisher are in dispute with Carlton over new deals, with Thornton believed to be the primary target of several clubs who are looking to shore up their defences.

On the day that Carlton president Graham Smorgon announced a board edict forbidding the recruitment of players who are either over 24 or cannot be expected to play at least 100 games for the club, it emerged that the club had a genuine struggle on its hands to retain two of its better young players.

Anthony McConville, manager of both players, said he met club officials last week but got no closer to resolving an impasse that, for Thornton at least, has existed for several months. It is believed Thornton has been offered about $210,000 a season for two years by Carlton but has at least one financially superior three-year offer before him.

"At this stage, we're a long way apart and it's up to Carlton to bridge the gap. That's where it's at," McConville said. "There are two-year deals on the table for both but that's about as much as they've offered. If that's their call, that's their call, but I think the marketplace will make a different call."

Thornton, in particular, has been a regular senior player almost from the time he stepped into the side in 2002. The 193-centimetre 22-year-old played all 22 games this year as a key back for a total of 91 in five seasons. He finished seventh in the recent best-and-fairest count.

Fisher, also 22, has had his injury concerns but played 13 games this year and his 50th match in round 21.

 

[Grechy]

I reckon he's a pretty good defender actually. Depending on the contract he is after he could actually be quite useful next year. He's had a couple of good games on Richo and with the amount of ball that goes into the Carlton backline it's pretty unreasonable to look at the stats.

Fisher is a bit of a meh though. Don't see anything he could bring at Tigerland.

 

[Darth_Tiger]

thornton would be a great pickup.

 

[duckboy]

I'd definitely be interested. Not sure that he's genuinely on the market though. If Carlton trade or lose him they might as well clsoe the doors.

 

[JohnHowat31]

Lets offer them Ray Hall and dodgy his birth certificate to make it look like he is 24. Im sure Smorgon would not be intelligent enough to even question it.........

 

[J-Train]

I'd definitely be interested. Not sure that he's genuinely on the market though. If Carlton trade or lose him they might as well clsoe the doors.

I agree Duckboy - Thorton is about the only consistent defender we have at the moment and certainly the only one capable of playing on the top forwards in the competition. If we don't come to terms with him, it will be a prime example of how poorly our club is going at the moment. You can't go and pay Kouta 300,000 grand a season when he has limited impact these days, then offer Thorton 210,000 when him and Lance are the only ones holding the backline together! Give him 250,000 and get that paper signed Blues!

 

[1980GFVideo]

I agree Duckboy - Thorton is about the only consistent defender we have at the moment and certainly the only one capable of playing on the top forwards in the competition. If we don't come to terms with him, it will be a prime example of how poorly our club is going at the moment. You can't go and pay Kouta 300,000 grand a season when he has limited impact these days, then offer Thorton 210,000 when him and Lance are the only ones holding the backline together! Give him 250,000 and get that paper signed Blues!

How hard was it for us to negotiate with other players when Gaspar got $600,000 per year. Been there before big time.

Still want clarification on the Cambell Brayshaw incident that had a few objects flying and relationships never mended.

 

[duckboy]

How hard was it for us to negotiate with other players when Gaspar got $600,000 per year. Been there before big time.

Still want clarification on the Cambell Brayshaw incident that had a few objects flying and relationships never mended.

Yep. And the Ottens thing showed that we're past paying oiver the odds for our own. Finally being managed and run professionally.

As for J-Trains comments, hopefully for the Blues sake they see sense. I would think Thornton would be worth $250+ easily to someone else.

 

[Bentleigh]

I rate Carltons Thornton.

More a 3rd tall than a true CHB/FB thought, but I always thought he was a good player.

Would welcome him.

 

[duckboy]

More a 3rd tall than a true CHB/FB thought, but I always thought he was a good player.

Strangely enough Bents, I actually agree with you.

He's done a great job as a key back given that he's naturally more a 3rd tall option.

 

[C4[2]Yo`DooR]

More importantly ... What would we get for him ?

What do you Richmond supporters think he's worth ?

Please be reasonable. I dont want to hear any Tivendale + Ray Hall deals again (ala Fevola 2005).

 

[CoggaRules]

yeah, we are now talking about picking up the dregs from the spooners? LMAO.
FFS, you cant be serious.

 

[C4[2]Yo`DooR]

yeah, we are now talking about picking up the dregs from the spooners? LMAO.
FFS, you cant be serious.

You're right .. you should play Patrick Bowden at FB, once Gaspar is delisted

 

[duckboy]

What do you Richmond supporters think he's worth ?

I think this would be a classic case of him being worth more to Carlton than he is to anyone else. He's probably worth a decent player or a very low 2nd round draft pick (20ish), but I can't see too many teams willing to part with that for a guy who should probably be a 3rd tall defence option. As much as Thornton has battled manfully as a KP, he's better suited as a 3rd tall and can be quite attacking.

If we were trading for him:

Chris Hyde for Thornton

OR

Pick 24 for Thornton

Maybe something like that. If I were Carlton would I go for that? No. Probably not.

 

[Wally Matera]

yeah, we are now talking about picking up the dregs from the spooners? LMAO.
FFS, you cant be serious.

Agree totally. Keep with the youth policy... it may mean another average year in 2007, but at least we will still be contenders in 2015.

I dont understand the value in picking up a sh_t c_nt because we have some immediate needs now, knowing full well that Thornton is not a top ranked AFL player and never going to be.

Keep our first three picks and utilise our rookie selections to its absolute maximum. If Richmond want to trade they can swap crap for crap with blokes like Rodan, Roach, Tivvers, etc... because it wont make any difference.

This is why Victorian football is sh_t at the moment, because we all feel that we have to do something.

 

[Wally Matera]

I think this would be a classic case of him being worth more to YOU than he is to anyone else.

Chris Hyde for Thornton
OR
Pick 24 for Thornton

No ****ing way!

 

[TheBacko]

much more intrested in fisher than i am thornton, don't really rate him. i think we would be better off chasing polak.

 

[Wally07]

Pick 24 for Thornton

quote]

24 is a bit low. At best 40 but more like 56. He aint worth that much. He really isn't much better than Ray Hall.

 

[ARES]

JCloke = Dud
Thorton = Bigger Dud
CCloke = Biggest Dud

Fisher = I would look at ?

Fact - Do not select hacks from struggling teams

Fact - Wait until Sydney, WC (Humm Exception), Freo & Adelaide delist players as they will be forced too. They have the best depth therefore 1 or 2 good young players that haven't had time to establish themselves may slip through...

 

[HBF]

T-Bird won't be going anywhere - trust me!!

 

[Wally Matera]

Fact - Wait until Sydney, WC (Humm Exception), Freo & Adelaide delist players as they will be forced too. They have the best depth therefore 1 or 2 good young players that haven't had time to establish themselves may slip through...

This is the biggest myth of all time... do l need to remind everyone of Shane Morrison debacle.

People automatically think that because they cant break into a premiership side, they assume that they're good. Well, its not true.

Also... l hope people dont overrate Fisher purely because he did a number on us a few years back. If he's tradeable to Carlton, then surely he aint that good.

 

[Darth_Tiger]

you took the words right off my fingers wally. jeremy humm is another great example, also luke weller, clay sampson and the list goes on and on.

 

[ARES]

Morrison and Humm arent at fault but selectors at the Tigers.

Kasy Green for the Kangas was a handy pick up from WC rookies.
Daniel MCConell was another good pick up
Jason gram Saints

There was one player and I cant recall who it was but he was delisted from one of the interstate teams and picked up I thought he played at the Lions or swans and was a very good pick up!

Humm never had good disposal, but for some reason we took the punt. Has he improvement, possibly not, is he serviceable, doubt it, didnt produce the goods when there was a chance this year.

Tigers pick Duds. Clokes are duds. Thorton is a dud.
Fisher is the only player that can become handy sneaky player, has room to develop.

 

[nugget_12]

gram was at the lions

 

[One-eyed Tiger]

We should have taken Craig Bolton when we had the opportunity in the PSD a few years back!