One thing I haven't seen mentioned in the debate over Bret Thornton is what this means for Paul Bower. Whilst Bower is more a CHB and Thornton a Full-Back, to me its a great opportunity for the club to give Bower the game time and responsibility, with Lance, to lead our defence.

Some players may succumb to the pressure ... others may grow in to great leaders.

Do we think Bower can cut it ??

Yep, under 18 AA CHB and has grown more thatn 192cm (anecdtoally, not confirmed). He'll cut it in the long-term; 2007 is a big ask as its only his second year of AFL footy but he'll get lots of games in 2007.

Also add Flint to that.

Add Hartlett while you're there.

Also add, dare I say it, the resurrection of Saddington?

I was with you until the Saddington part..lol Though it's not impossible! (Depends on his dicky knee.)

_________________
Circumstance has no value. It is how one relates to a situation that has value. All true meaning resides in the personal relationship to a phenomenon, what it means to you.

No - was a pathetic selection. I still remember Hughes and DP (who says "i leave recruiting up to Wayne" when it suits him) saying "we were never going to use that pick (in the 50s) anyway". Why???? I still struggle over that statement.

Bower was always getting game time though. Sorry there are no positives in losing a very good 22 year old defender we've invested 4 years in. We're not in the business of developing kids for other clubs.

You can't say we don't need X because we've still got Y. Its the same as saying we didn't need Hamill because we had Whitnall. We need all the good players we can get. Very sad day when one of your better youngsters wants to leave.

_________________
"We used to sit around and talk about how bad the game plan was." Anthony Koutoufides

Yeah I was on a roll and couldn't stop...sort of like running downhill...

Still have to make the most of it ...if not turn it into a +ve.

See the Age already has Carlton saying round one pick (6) or lets talk to others....otherwise see you in the PSD. GOOD!

Whilst the reasons to leave aren't +ve's...there will always be reasons.

Potentially we should see Hartlett, Bower...and anyone else (this draft?) getting more experience than otehrwise would have, That's a +ve. Picking a player who turns out to be a gun...that's a +ve...let's make this a +ve.

Everyone was saying our trade currency was zero...now we're after a first rounder.....We can end up ahead if we play hard, tougha and smart

_________________
“Every single element of the Club has to be the best in the league, meticulously and methodically, and only by doing this will we be elite and challenge for number 17.”
Greg Lee

It might amaze you but the number a player is drafted at isn't a concrete measure of how good that player is. Thornton would probably be in the 10 best players of the year he was drafted.

_________________
"We used to sit around and talk about how bad the game plan was." Anthony Koutoufides

We weren't in the game of winning a flag for a few years yet anyway. Plenty of time to develop a KPP backman - although obviously next year will be tough. It is now up to the club to make sure they use the situation (and what I personally believe is a likely trade of Russell) to make sure that we load up on picks. By the time 2009 dawns, whoever we get in this draft should be as well developed as Thornton is now, and they'll be in our side challenging for the flag

Positives people - listen to Jarusa!

I agree Pick 6 or a 2nd rounder and decent body

_________________
Ich bein ein Carltonian

and then we can trade them for more picks.

_________________
"We used to sit around and talk about how bad the game plan was." Anthony Koutoufides

Its hyperbolic to say this, but we dont want to just keep turning over young malcontents just out of their apprenticeship - or else we will end up as a wooden spoon feeder club, getting players ready and then passing them on to other sides above us.

having said this though, yes, Bower O Hailpin etc will be the basis of a new defence for us.

One thing for me that is interesting is that I saw a very very young Carlton team eventually triumphing against the odds when no one at all rated them.

At this rate, we will certainly have the young team, all we need is the young coach to go with it...



.

_________________
My Blue Heaven

blueman wrote



That will happen in 2008 or 2009.

Setanta, Bower, Hartlett, Waite are already here and will improve in 2007

Flint and Aisake may be givem a chance in defense in 2007 2008

Saddington may just surprise us in 2007

Kouta may take on backline role to release Whitnall in the forwardline in 2007.

take out Saddo, Kouta and Whitnall out end 2007-8, and yep we've got a bunch of kids that will grow together with their new young coach in 2008-9.

_________________
Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

What are we trading for, a car???

Maybe we can then ontrade it to North as they lost their van and will be in the hunt for a replacement...

_________________
Circumstance has no value. It is how one relates to a situation that has value. All true meaning resides in the personal relationship to a phenomenon, what it means to you.

Doesn't amaze me.... It's exactly what I'm saying...
e's a good player, if we are trading him (or anyone else...need to end up ahead!

_________________
“Every single element of the Club has to be the best in the league, meticulously and methodically, and only by doing this will we be elite and challenge for number 17.”
Greg Lee

Just wondering......can Essendon* trade their priority pick???

could we ask for a Thornton for pick 18 swap??? would be nice having picks 1,17,18,19

_________________
Back like a raging case of pubic lice

would also increase our chances of getting nathan brown. its funny how little emphasis is placed on defence when you look at defenders selection numbers in the draft.
just hope we dont throw brown to the wolves like we did to livo.

_________________
dane's trolling again

This guy will be good.

in a few years lets hope we go from no back line to the afls premier back line.

_________________
dane's trolling again