Bret Thornton Biography

Defence-based football may look ugly, but it doesn't feel it, says Carlton defender Bret Thornton.

Carlton's mammoth victory over Richmond sent a warning to the football world, defender Bret Thornton says.

Daniel Kerr is on the sidelines for a match after an attempt to have his hit on Carlton's Marc Murphy characterised as a bump, rather than a strike, was tossed out by the AFL Tribunal last night.

Kerr told the tribunal by videolink that in knocking Murphy to the ground at the opening bounce of last Friday night's game, he was merely copying an earlier hit by Bret Thornton upon Matt Rosa.

"I proceeded to bump the closest Carlton player in the same fashion, and that happened to be Marc Murphy."

Bret Thornton joins young guns Dennis Armfield and Paul Bower is signing new two-year deals with Carlton.

Young guns Dennis Armfield and Paul Bower also agreed to extend their current contracts by two years on the weekend.

"Bret is now one of our senior players and while still young at just 25 years of age, he is one of the oldest players on the Carlton list," general manager of football operations Steven Icke said.

"Dennis and Paul were both recruited to the club from Western Australia. While Paul's development as an attacking defender has been on show this season, equally impressive for us has been the development of Dennis in his second season in the AFL."