FORMER Richmond great Kevin Bartlett doesn’t think Dale Thomas is in Carlton’s best side.

Panned for his poor kicking in the Blues’ loss to the Sydney Swans on Friday night, Thomas has this time had his place in the rebuilding Blues’ line-up questioned — on the back of that display.

“On his performance the other night, it’s sad to say again, I mean he really is not good enough to actually get a game at Carlton and Carlton’s really struggling at the moment in terms of their situation and rebuilding,” Bartlett said on SEN on Monday morning.

“He should be one of their stars. He’s on probably, we believe, maybe $650,000 or $700,000 a year but you know, they’ve got to try to find out what they can do to get some strength back into his leg.”

Round 18

Bartlett said he felt for Thomas while watching the match, the former Collingwood star now seemingly unable to hit the heights he previously was while wearing a Collingwood jumper.

“I was watching the game, you know, Carlton’s last practice game and I really felt sorry for Daisy Thomas because he was a very, very good player at Collingwood ... but for some reason now he can’t kick,” Bartlett said.

“Now I don’t know whether he’s lost all of his power in his legs or if the foot injury he’s had has just somehow has weakened the ability to hit the instep and kick the ball but it was sad to see him on the weekend try so hard to win the ball, but he just physically can’t kick it.

“He just doesn’t seem to be big enough in the legs ... he doesn’t seem to have the development in the legs or the strength in the legs from a guy that’s been in the system that long, so I don’t know what Carlton’s going to do about that.

“They’ve got to try to work out what the problem is.”

Dale Thomas goes the barrel as he kicks goal from 50m after the third term siren. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: News Corp Australia

Fellow commentator Terry Wallace agreed, saying it had been “every bit of three years” since Thomas had enjoyed a “solid year” despite the former Pie enduring some tough luck with injury.

“You would have to say, the way that he’s going about his footy at the moment ... they (Carlton) would need to go past him (at selection),” Wallace said.

“They would be better playing some of the young (former) GWS boys, getting games into players that are going to be their future rather than playing Dale the way that he is at the moment.

“Look I’m hoping that he can overcome it, but I can’t see how, with that power situation, how he’s going to overcome that.”

King raised Thomas’ kicking during Friday night’s loss, saying it was simply not up to scratch.

“Daisy Thomas of three years ago would’ve gone back, kicked a pure drop punt and at least put it to the top of the goal square, if not through for a major,” King said.

“I think it’s a focus point we need to have a look at from here on in.

“That is exactly where Dale Thomas is at the moment. His kicking is not at AFL standard.”