Very well put Warby, good question. Whilst we have so many half-forwards struggling to put forward a complete package at this level:

- Hartlett - fitness, longevity, weakness if not played in this rol
- Fisher - today's game?
- Wiggins - fits the game plan but can he convert
- Russell - can play lead-up but can he do anything else?
- Edwards - injured, struggling (to be fair)....

he would seem to have the advantage of effort, versatility and physicality (downsides of confusion).

At this stage I think he's a clear winner.

Austin is developing quite nicely as a backman

They should move Thornton forward to play this role

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If you allow the Government to change the Laws in an emergency
They will create an Emergency to change the Laws

For all of the Thornton love SB he's still only managed 2 goals in 140 games of AFL football. He might play your lead-up role in future but I'd still prefer him in defence. I dont buy the argument that Thornton is on the outer - he's a top 10 player at the Club - and i'd love it if they tested Austin up forward as he has great hands, but for mine we're still woefully short of forward options, and Setanta offers a better package that most of the other options.

It wouldnt surprise me if 3-4 of our forward options found themselves delisted at year's end.

Thornton has probably played all of 1 maybe 2 games forward - he leaks early goals in defence and allows his man to much space - thinks he can zone off all the time - has short kick syndrome as well

To valuable to let go because he has talent - They have the perfect chance to try it now they can start with Austin in defence and him up forward if things go pear shaped they can swap them . Thorton been tied to defence his entire time at the club because there have been no other options - We have that now

If Setanta is our best option going forward we are in serious trouble

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If you allow the Government to change the Laws in an emergency
They will create an Emergency to change the Laws

I think we are in serious trouble in the forward line for sure - we've come from so far back that we needed every selection to work, and it hasn't. My view is that as an all-round package he has more to offer than 5-6 players that he is competing with. Not to say he'll be there in 2011-2012 but we really need to work up multiple options going forward and other strategies - even trading our top picks to pick a good forward - as we're left with a few mediocre options (bearing in mind this is better than low quality options we've had until now). Unless we can release Waite forward (not this year) i can't see our list providing a genuine Top 4 contender.

No doubt Thornton has had to bear the brunt down in defence as the worst list in the comp has been worked over, but if he showed alot as a forward, wouldnt we have given it more of a go? If he demonstrated great lead-up ability wouldn't we have tried it?

For mine, Id much rather develop Austin as the switch player and leave Thornton as the 3rd/4th defernder which he's done very well IMHO.

For 2009 and as back-up for next year Setanta offers a fair bit. Im partial to Wiggins but note the fine words of the great buzzaaah who highlights that even if he gets it he wont convert it. Either is better than Hartlett, Edwards, Russell (fwd). Depending on the opposition, each may be better than Fisher.

I agree we have problems with our forwardline; they're still young and devloping strength and stamina:

Austin, Kreuzer, Hammer, Yarran, Garlett, Betts, Robinson, Stanton

I'd agree that as forwards go Setanta and Wiggins are ahead of Hartlett, Edwards, Cloke and Fisher.

Interesting that there would be a quick fix of our forwardline once we add Waite, Walker and Warnock to the team. These 3 injuries have dirctly or indirectly hampered our forwardline.

Imagine the forwardline with them available:

HF Waite to add to Houla and Setanta (and when stronger Yarran/ Robinson)
F Kreuzer to add to Fevola and Betts (and when stronger Garlett)

With Waite and Kreuzer are added to Fevola, Setanta may find himself pushed out. So I reckon Setanta is still in the team because he's replaced Waite, and the way he's going he might hold doen CHF in the finals if he can take his game to the next level.

I love the idea of Betts and Yarran in the midfield and threatening the forward space or rotated forward. A mobile forwardline is a really potent weapon. Add Walker forward too and the opposition will have a head ache.

Our forwards list is pretty good. Sure I'd like to see more of Hammer, Austin and Thornton forward, but I think we're trying to settle the 2009 team to get to the finals and hopefully compete at that level. It's round 12 and I guess there's time to see even Hartlett if he earns a spot.

We've been hurt in a major way with injuries to key players; forwards.

Great posts guys.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Our first 2 picks in this years draft should be tall forwards, IMO.

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There's so much I could say...

Now lets just say at our first pick there is a midfielder and lets make it an inside midfielder who is clearly rated ahead of any available forward. What do you do?

pick a tall forward

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There's so much I could say...

good idea.

then we can have a Yarran style debate all over again

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Surely, recruiting shouldn't be black and white to the extent of going after a particular type of player irrespective of the strengths of other potential draftees? I can accept that there can be a slight loading in favour of drafting for need, but it has to be a marginal loading. In other words, if you have a choice between a gun midfielder and the best available tall remaining when our first pick comes around, there's no contest if the tall isn't much chop. You don't just take a tall in the hope he might prove better than you think.

Budzy will.

1st 2 picks: key forward or inside midfielder, in order of talent.
3rd pick: project key forward.

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Gaga and The Hoff party hard in London

Not really our recruiting staff rated him number 2 and got him at 6. No debate required they got the best available player in their eyes and he happened to be a forward.

Yes. Setanta deserves at least another year on our list.

He has shown enough, and with regular game time is really starting to improve.

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I AM DISENFRANCHISED

Agree with that, but imagine the gurus' melting down were we to take a forward and the mid we passed on goes on to star in year one.

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If there's not an excellent tall forward prospect around at pick 10 - 12 I'll go he!!

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There's so much I could say...

There might well be but he might also be living on the Gold Coast.

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“It is a state of mind, a system of belief, a way of seeing the world, a deep faith that, because you are Carlton, you belong to something great.” - Mike Fitzpatrick articulating what Out of the Blue means.

Should he ?

Yes.

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