Lance Whitnall
Encyclopedia
Lance Whitnall is a former Australian rules football
er, and the ex-captain of the Carlton Football Club
.
AFL Draft
under the father-son rule
, with his father Graeme having played 66 games for Carlton
in the 1970s and 1980s.
The young red-headed, freckled Whitnall, known as "Banger", "Big Red" or simply "Red", quickly established himself in Carlton
's best 22, kicking four goals on debut, and missing only a handful of games in 1997 and playing every game in 1998 and 1999. He became a vital part of Carlton's forward line
, and in Round 17, 1998 against the Western Bulldogs
, the then-19-year-old Whitnall became one of the youngest players to kick 8 goals in a game. It was in this match that he well and truly had established his presence. Whitnall finished with 46 goals for the 1998 season, followed by 55 goals in 1999.
.
However, from there, the talented Whitnall had suffered a number of setbacks in his career, with ongoing injury and weight problems.
), and at the age of 27, Whitnall became the second youngest Carlton player (after Robert Walls
) to play 200 AFL games.
A long term member of the leadership team, and widely regarded as having one of the best football brains in the game, Whitnall first took over the captaincy of the team during Anthony Koutoufides
' hand injury in 2006, and became the full-time captain in 2007 after Koutoufides relinquished the position. However he struggled in 2007 with ongoing problems with a degenerative condition in his knee. At the completion of the 2007 season, concerns by the club about his degenerative knee being able to stand up to the pressures of AFL football forced Carlton to sack Whitnall, bringing his 11 season, 216 game career at Carlton to an end at 28 years of age.
In the 2008 winter season, Whitnall returned to play for original club Lalor
in the NFL. He played there in 2008 and 2009. In 2010, Whitnall shifted to the EDFL
's Craigieburn Football Club
where he served as playing assistant coach for two seasons; in 2011, Whitnall was the EDFL's A-Grade leading goalkicker, after kicking fourteen goals in the final round. Whitnall will play and coach at Glenroy
(also in the EDFL) from 2012.
Whitnall also plays cricket
at a suburban level for the Lalor Warriors Cricket Club in the North Metro Cricket Association, where he is an opening or top order batsman.
Currently he works for Star Track Express.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er, and the ex-captain of the Carlton Football Club
Carlton Football Club
The Carlton Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club competes in the Australian Football League, and was one of the eight founding members of that competition in 1897...
.
Early career (1997–1999)
Debuting in 1997 as a 17-year-old, the young Whitnall was recruited in the 19961996 AFL Draft
The 1996 AFL Draft was held at the conclusion of the 1996 Australian Football League season.The AFL Draft is the annual draft of new unsigned players by Australian rules football teams that participate in the main competition of that sport, the Australian Football League.Clubs receive picks based...
AFL Draft
AFL Draft
The AFL Draft is the annual draft of new unsigned players by Australian rules football teams that participate in the main competition of that sport, the Australian Football League.-History:...
under the father-son rule
Father-son rule
The father-son rule is a rule that allows clubs to select the sons of players who have made a major past contribution to the team in Australian rules football, most notably the Australian Football League...
, with his father Graeme having played 66 games for Carlton
Carlton Football Club
The Carlton Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club competes in the Australian Football League, and was one of the eight founding members of that competition in 1897...
in the 1970s and 1980s.
The young red-headed, freckled Whitnall, known as "Banger", "Big Red" or simply "Red", quickly established himself in Carlton
Carlton Football Club
The Carlton Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club competes in the Australian Football League, and was one of the eight founding members of that competition in 1897...
's best 22, kicking four goals on debut, and missing only a handful of games in 1997 and playing every game in 1998 and 1999. He became a vital part of Carlton's forward line
Forward line
In Australian rules football, the forward line refers to a set of attacking positions on the field.The forward line consists of three players, a left and right forward pocket, and a full-forward. Up until approximately 20 years ago, the forward pockets were often the resting rover or ruckman...
, and in Round 17, 1998 against the Western Bulldogs
Western Bulldogs
The Western Bulldogs are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based at the Whitten Oval in West Footscray, an inner-western suburb of Melbourne...
, the then-19-year-old Whitnall became one of the youngest players to kick 8 goals in a game. It was in this match that he well and truly had established his presence. Whitnall finished with 46 goals for the 1998 season, followed by 55 goals in 1999.
Mid-career (2000–2003)
In 2000 Whitnall had his best ever season when he kicked 70 goals, including his career best 9.4 against Brisbane in Round 16, and was named in the All-Australian TeamAll-Australian Team
The All-Australian Team is an all star team of Australian rules footballers, selected by a panel at the end of each season. It represents a complete team, including interchange players and a coach, of the best performed during the season....
.
However, from there, the talented Whitnall had suffered a number of setbacks in his career, with ongoing injury and weight problems.
Late career (2004–2007)
In 2005, Whitnall turned around his previous weight problems and came out looking as fit as he had ever been. He performed very well during 2005 and 2006, playing predominately as the senior member of the Blues' young backline. He capped off a solid 2006 with victory in the Blues' best and fairest (the John Nicholls MedalJohn Nicholls Medal
The John Nicholls Medal is an Australian rules football award given to the player adjudged Best and Fairest for the Carlton Football Club for the season....
), and at the age of 27, Whitnall became the second youngest Carlton player (after Robert Walls
Robert Walls
Robert Walls is a former Australian rules footballer and coach who now works primarily as a television commentator and newspaper columnist on the sport. On 22 June 2006 he was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame.- Carlton :...
) to play 200 AFL games.
A long term member of the leadership team, and widely regarded as having one of the best football brains in the game, Whitnall first took over the captaincy of the team during Anthony Koutoufides
Anthony Koutoufides
Anthony Koutoufides is a former Australian rules footballer with the Carlton Football Club. One of the most powerful and athletic players of all-time, he played in almost every position and was often called the prototype of the modern footballer.Of Greek and Italian descent, Koutoufides has been...
' hand injury in 2006, and became the full-time captain in 2007 after Koutoufides relinquished the position. However he struggled in 2007 with ongoing problems with a degenerative condition in his knee. At the completion of the 2007 season, concerns by the club about his degenerative knee being able to stand up to the pressures of AFL football forced Carlton to sack Whitnall, bringing his 11 season, 216 game career at Carlton to an end at 28 years of age.
Post-AFL career
Whitnall was recruited by NTFL side the Palmerston Magpies after being delisted by Carlton and played in two of the club's matches in the 2007/08 season, kicking several goals.In the 2008 winter season, Whitnall returned to play for original club Lalor
Lalor Football Club
Lalor Football Club is an Australian rules football club located 18 km north of Melbourne in the suburb of Lalor, Victoria which has a population of 19561 circa 2006.The club fields Seniors and Juniors and is affiliated with the Northern Football League....
in the NFL. He played there in 2008 and 2009. In 2010, Whitnall shifted to the EDFL
Essendon District Football League
The Essendon District Football League is an Australian rules football league based in the north-west suburbs of Melbourne, which was established in 1930.The EDFL consists of 24 senior clubs, 10 clubs in A Grade and 14 clubs in B Grade...
's Craigieburn Football Club
Craigieburn Football Club
The Craigieburn Football Club is an Australian rules football club and is located 27 km north of Melbourne in the township of Craigieburn....
where he served as playing assistant coach for two seasons; in 2011, Whitnall was the EDFL's A-Grade leading goalkicker, after kicking fourteen goals in the final round. Whitnall will play and coach at Glenroy
Glenroy Football Club
Glenroy Football Club is an Australian rules football club located 14 km north of Melbourne in the suburb of Glenroy. The club was founded in 1946 and affiliated with the Essendon District Football League. The club fields open age and junior teams....
(also in the EDFL) from 2012.
Whitnall also plays cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
at a suburban level for the Lalor Warriors Cricket Club in the North Metro Cricket Association, where he is an opening or top order batsman.
Currently he works for Star Track Express.