For about the last five years while planning their match-ups against Essendon, the Carlton match committee would routinely place the name Thornton alongside Lloyd on the whiteboard.For so long, Bret Thornton was the Blues' first and only option for the job on Essendon's champion full-forward Matthew Lloyd - but not any more.Now Carlton has a host of tall defensive options apart from 'T-Bird' with youngster Paul Bower showing plenty of promise, Jason Saddington fit again and finding form after overcoming his knee problems, and Setanta O'hAilpin being groomed for a key role.Thornton, who has enjoyed a few wins and a few losses head-to-head over the journey, may yet spend some time on his old rival in Lloyd's return to competition on Saturday after missing almost all of 2006 with a hamstring torn from the bone, but he won’t be locked in."That's probably been lacking in the last few years, that depth down there … but it's going to be great with those names and throw Whitnall down there as well," Thornton said on Wednesday."We've got a bit more size, a bit more size and strength to compete with the taller forward lines like Essendon will probably put out in the park this week.""Obviously he'll be jumping out of his skin so whoever gets him it's going to be a good challenge."Thornton said he has been working hard to come to terms with the new 'hands in the back' rule, but doesn't expect to encounter too many problems in the heat of battle."I've used my hands in the past and whenever you've done that for a long time it's obviously going to take a while (to adjust)," he said."It's going to take a bit of getting used to for all players, but it's a rule that needed to be changed."I think it's got advantages for both (backs and forwards) because if you're going to play in front as a backman and pushing back the forwards have got to adjust as well."The 23-year-old, recently added to the club's leadership group, said he was looking forward to working closely with Lance Whitnall who's widely expected to be announced as Carlton's new captain later today."I think he'd be terrific for the job. Being such a young club he's great in that role," Thornton said.Thornton said he didn’t believe that Whitnall's minor role in a recent late-night incident at Ballarat should count against his leadership prospects."Apart from that he's done everything right. I don’t think he should be judged on one effort and he's certainly a great candidate."