I have no doubt that Lance is in his twilight years.
I've always been an admirer of Lance, because I chose to look at the positives and the negatives he brings to the table. There are very few perfect players in the competition, and even greats make mistakes, have their ups and downs; there are no perfect players at Carlton in such a young team, where youth's by-product is inexperience, and with that many mistakes.
I do not believe that Kennedy and Fisher are better players than Lance at the moment. Let me explain what at the moment implies. I consider the preseason just that; preseason. This time of the year is not the real deal and I'm sure there is no doubt with anyone that Lance is a bit behind atm because of his knee problem hindering his training, which in turn has impacted his fitness level, hoever in the real 4 point games he has finished that with a higher value to the team than these 2 kids, and season 2007 hasn't even started.
Bottom line is he needs every minute he can get of a competitive impact at a high level over the next 2 weeks to build up his fitness level. This is something we should all support and hope for for all our players. Their performance will be their judge in season propper.
We must then look at Lance as a work in progress. Judge him after 6 games, 11 games of the real season, not now; that's just plain silly.
Furthermore, the kids need all the guidance they can get. Lets face it Lance will not be here in 2009 (imo), so atm he is not going to cost us a premiership, but he along with Kouta, Lappin, Scotland and Stevens are our 5 oldest and most experienced players (and 3 of those are only 27) and the kids atm look up to them.
That is the #1 reason I have him in my first 22, and let me say when putting my 2007 teams together, I have struggled with Lance's role, but then I realise I'm being consumed by the future and not the present; reality check sorts out the dreaming emotional stuff....it's not a race to change things now, we've done that on a wholesale level, it's a work in progress.
We have had 10 kids under 21 playing in the preseason. My view is that we are blooding plenty, and not all of the 6 new kids must be given a go in 2007. They must earn it.
I do believe though that if in a few weeks Lance's form is not up to AFL level he must be given a spell (captain or no captain); its been done before...not at Carlton (?).
However, closely looking at the games, and I mean really closely, I do not believe that Lance has had a negative impact to the team because of an inability to jump and chase. I think that that's the way the games have panned out.
You can plan as much as you like, but no game goes according to plan....I think we are faster and moving the ball faster in 2007, and by the time the ball is carried to the HF line, we're not looking for Lance because we're right next to him. Have a good look to see what role Lance has been playing in the preseason....he's been opening up the forwardline for Fev, and no matter what anyone says about Lance, he does have the respect of opposition coaches, and his man does follow him wherever Lance leads him....to our advantage.
Finally at this very moment, I wouldn't change a thing. We have a winning feeling, and we have a winning momentum....all players are on notice to keep their spots or work harder to gain a spot.
Right now the real issue for some is who we drop to fit in Kennedy, and perhaps this scary thought is the reason the knives are out on Lnce. Sure Kennedy has shown a bit, but get real he hasn't set the world on fire; but that's just me thinking about the now and not 2009.
