I agree. He would be more than handy as a forward if Roughy is having an off day or down back if we are against a team with a few good talls up forward (eg. St Kilda and Geelong). Tom Murphy is ok but we have many players like him (eg.Laddo). A bigger body down back is needed to support Croady. Gilham isnt that bad - check the stats - almost 100% effective disposals week in week out. You need good decision makers down back.

I am not saying play him on roo for the whole game, just come off the bench and help browny out, I could not give a **** if Riewoldt runs him around, even better if he takes his marks up on the wing at least he won't be having a shot from there. Time to pull head out of the ass and give him more exposure, he is 10 times the footballer Gilham and Murphy are. I am not being negative towards those two I am merely stating the bloody obvious. Would not even mention Dowler in the same sentence if they are looking to trade anyone it should be him.

Thorpy doesn't have the fitness to go with Riewoldt, I reckon wait Richmond rd 20 or West Coast rd 21 to give him a game. Dowler must be worried considering he was is probably behind Boyle and Thorpy to get a game. The only way Thorpy is going to make it is as CHB or if Roughy goes to CHB and he slots into CHF.

Why not play him this week, he had a good game with Box Hill last week. The Saints have the talls to stretch us, whilst we get two good onballers back this week with Lewis and Bateman. Seriously if we don't get games into him you can forget about trading him, as I doubt other teams recruiting managers are going to watch Box hill play. Croad will have to go to Kosi, Brown may have to play on Riewoldt, but why not try Thorpe on him. Sink or swim I reckon.

dont think he will last on our list, we have enough fowards and could be used as trade bait

Mitch Thorp is a forward.
Can't believe he's only played one senior game last year. Great mark and strong bodied.
He's playing mainly defence for Box Hill.
Given that we need key position defenders they are trying to groom him for that.
I'd rather see him in the forward line and add to the players we have there.
He's better than Boyle and be nice if he's given a run in the seniors soon.

First game for in for Box Hill last year, kicked 6.4, but had two hip op's over pre-season and hasn't kicked on. I reckon next season Roughy will move down to CHB and the duckling will slot comfortably in to the foward line...you don't get given #19 for nothing, can mark, reads the play and has a strut....will be a gun!

I totally agree with you, from what I have seen watching Box Hill he goes alright, considering the ball is hardly forward of the centre for them. I believe he is wasted at Box Hill and is worthy of an inclusion for the Hawks. What happened to the youth policy, I would rather him in the team than Stewy Dew. Stick him up forward he should get the 3rd or 4th best defender that should not be a problem, if it is I guess we have our answer whether he is good enough. I for one suspect he is.