Bret Thornton Biography

GWS delist five players including Setanta O'hAilpin, Bret Thornton, Gerald Ugle, Josh Growden and rookie-listed New South Welshman Joe Redfern.

"I want to thank all these players for their contribution to the club and wish them all the very best for the future," GWS football manager Graeme Allan said in a statement.

Carlton discard Bret Thornton joins GWS after the Giants selected him with their first pick in the pre-season draft.

Carlton unrestricted free agent Bret Thornton looks set to be thrown a lifeline by Greater Western Sydney after informing the Blues earlier in the year that he wanted out of the club.

Bret Thornton joins Jordan Russell by parting company with Carlton to become an unrestricted free agent.

Carlton has rewarded veteran utility Bret Thornton with a new one year contract.

"We agreed earlier this week on Bret's contract, and he's happy to remain a Blue for another 12 months," Thornton's manager Anthony McConville said.

"[Playing forward] was something that Bret was hoping to get an opportunity to do this year, particularly given the fact that he's been a defender all his career. He's shown that he's got two strings to his bow."

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."

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."

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

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