IT'S 10 years now since Carlton ensured Gold Coast’s first match in AFL competition would be remembered, not necessarily for all the right reasons.

In being party to the historic contest on the night of Saturday, April 2, 2011 – a Round 2 affair given Gold Coast’s first round bye - the Blues slammed on 26 goals (nine of them in the opening quarter) in a 119-point annihilation of the Suns under lights at the Gabba - with the Indigenous pair Jeff Garlett and Andrew Walker each putting five over the goal umpire’s hat.

But it’s Bret Thornton’s lazy four in an all-too-rare forward foray that seems to endure. Taking his place in the uncustomary forward pocket, 'T-Bird' presented well, clunked a couple of contested marks and found the gap between the big sticks with monotonous regularity.

“I do remember that night. Ten years is it? Gee it’s flown,” said Thornton, Carlton’s resident defender for the better part of his 188 senior appearances.

“I remember there was a big build-up to the game, obviously from Gold Coast’s perspective. It was a pretty exciting time for the AFL, particularly in Queensland, and I remember Brett (Carlton Coach Ratten) telling us to respect the Gold Coast team.

“But it’s fair to say none of us expected the outcome and a few of us kicked bags that night.”

Thornton, who predominantly played forward/midfield in his junior years, recalled starting up front through the 2010/’11 pre-season.

“But I only learned a few days out from the Suns game that I’d actually be playing forward in it – and luckily I was on the end of a few.”

On a night in which Chris Judd chested the banner for his 200th career game before an audience just under 30,000, Carlton posted its 25th victory by 100 points or more and drew level with its 6th biggest win in its illustrious history.

Marc Murphy earned three Brownlow votes for his 36-possession haul and first-gamer Matthew Watson became the 15th Blue to debut in a 100-point-plus victory. Watson also saw Charlie Dixon slam through the Suns’ first-ever goal that night, late in the opening term.

Of the 21 players + a sub named for Carlton in that match, only three – Eddie Betts, Marc Murphy and Ed Curnow – are still going around in dark Navy.

A fourth, Mitch Robinson, now calls the Gabba home.

Thesedays a doting father to his son and daughter, Thornton is involved with the Dandenong South family building steel business Complete Welding and Complete Supply – an essential service that was not adversely impacted by the COVID-19 lockdowns.

He’s also keeping a keen eye on the Cripps/Docherty-led Blues of 2021, particularly so since his old teammate and close friend David Teague got the coaching gig – and he’s upbeat about how today’s Blues are tracking.

“It’s been a bit frustrating for Carlton supporters when the players play good footy then lapse, as was the case on occasions last year and the first two games this year,” Thornton conceded.

“But there were really good signs at the weekend, and hopefully this weekend it’ll be two wins from two.”

Round 2
Saturday 2 April 2011
Gold Coast v Carlton

CARLTON          9.5      15.7      21.10        26.15 (171)

GOLD COAST     1.1      3.5       6.8            7.10 (52)

Goalkickers: J Garlett 5, A. Walker 5, B. Thornton 4, E. Betts 2, C. Judd 2, J. Waite 2, R. Warnock 2, E. Curnow, M. Murphy, M. Robinson & K. Simpson 1.

Brownlow votes: Marc Murphy (3), Bryce Gibbs (2), Rob Warnock (1)

Attendance: 27,914 @ the Gabba