By LIAM TWOMEY
DEER Park has pulled off another recruiting double strike, this time signing former Carlton defender Bret Thornton and former Western Bulldog Ryan Hargrave.
The news comes just weeks after the Lions also signed Hawthorn premiership player Brent Guerra.
Hargrave was drafted by the Western Bulldogs in 1999 and proved to be one of the club’s best late selections after slipping to pick 66.
He went on to play 203 games before finishing his career in 2012.
In 2013 he joined Essendon District Football League side Hillside and helped the club win the division three premiership.
Thornton was drafted in the 2002 national draft and played 188 games for the Blues. He spent the majority of his time on the backline but also swung forward on occasions, kicking 30 goals throughout his career.
After finishing at the Blues in 2012, Thornton played one game for Greater Western Sydney in 2013 before retiring. Deer Park president Mark McGoldrick said it was great to have someone of Thornton’s calibre on board.
“Contrary to what people think, we have got a lot of younger guys ready to come through and we just think, we want some leadership up the top,” McGoldrick said.
“We want a few guys who know how to finish and make sure our kids are being taught the right way.
“Bret was very eager to come over and it was just a matter of working through a few things with his time commitments.
“Hopefully in the next two or three years he will finish his career with us.”
Deer Park coach Marc Bullen said he expected Thornton to play forward next season.
“Last year we probably struggled in that key forward position,” Bullen said.
“Bret has expressed a desire to play up forward and I am more than willing to find a position for him there.
“Last season our defence was first class and we think we have the coverage down back to really nullify sides.
“We have a few guys up forward now who can kick up between 70 and 100 goals each and there aren’t too many key backs in the league that are going to be able to match up on the players that we have got up there,” Bullen said.
“I am very excited to be coaching this group again next year.”
The Lions will kick off pre-season training in the coming weeks.
