The traditional colours of dark Navy Blue were temporarily shelved at Visy Park today, as the Carlton players took to the track sporting the guernseys of the clubs from which they were recruited.
 
All manner of jumper colour and design was on show, with Matthew Kreuzer flying the flag for the Northern Knights, Jarrad Waite for Morwell and Jordan Russell for West Adelaide.
 
Irishman Zach Tuohy even fronted up in the green and white of ‘The Town’, that being his old GAA club Portlaoise.
 
For the record, WAFL club Swan Districts is the best represented strip at Visy Park, with Dennis Armfield, David Ellard, Jeff Garlett, Chris Yarran and  Wayde Twomey all unfortunate bearers of the black and white combo.
 
Next best is TAC Cup Under 18 team Oakleigh Chargers with three reps - Andrew Carrazzo, Marc Murphy and Bret Thornton - all boasting the horsehead tops.
 
“The guernsey would have to be 11 years old, and it still fits too,” said Thornton of his Chargers jumper.
 
“I have to admit it holds up all right and is in pretty good shape.”
 
Asked to cast his mind back to those halcyon junior footy days, Thornton fondly recalled being part of select company. As he said: “It’s a long time ago, but Andy Carrazzo and ‘Murph’ all came from there, and Campbell Brown was about the place too.”
 
Thornton’s time with the Chargers preceded his tenure with the Victorian Metro team. He then trained briefly with Melbourne before getting the call from Shane O’Sullivan that he’d been taken with Carlton’s 1st round selection (11th overall) in the 2002 NAB AFL Rookie Draft.
 
For “T-Bird” that was 170 games and nine seasons ago . . . and much like his Chargers jumper he’s still holding up.