A common topic on this site has been the fat boy.He is the most fascinating player in the team to watch because of his slow non- athletic body, but quick thinking cranium.
Despite his first injury free year for a while, Lance was confined for a lot of the year plugging holes in our very leaky defence.Except for a few games in attack where he looked dangerous,Whitnall struggled up forward.I believe his days as an impact forward are over.Some may disagree ,but he has to have the ball delivered to him almost on a platter and once the ball is away from him or on the ground he is cactus.

No new news there, but what if Bower,Kennedy, Edwards,the irish boys start kicking arse a bit earlier than expected.Where does that leave Whitnall if a couple of these young guns start playing power laden footy in defence.

Will the modern game finally catch up with Whitnall.If these young players develop quicker than expected some of the senior guys guaranteed of a game in the passed might be in for a rude awakening.

I forgot Hartlett who seems to be destined for greater things down the track as well.

Near the end.

I for one wanted the club too be courageous and trade Whitnall and Fevola. Not in a nasty way, but simply just too take another leap forward.

There is no doubt that both could stand up and have stellar years, in particular Fevola, but Whitnalls body type certainly limits him on the ground.

He has sure hands, not a bad set shot kick, but I notice when he leads up the ground and marks he often turns around and quickly kicks on off balance.

He should not be considered in the backline from this day forward. We have plenty of options now, although some untried, but with Thornton, Livingston, Bower, Hartlett, Saddington, Teague, Russell, Carrazzo etc as options in the backline they must be gelled together.

He must stay in the forward line and be used there until such time as Waite, OHailpin, Fevola, Fisher, Deluca, Kennedy, etc are all so sure with there hands and feet that he is squeezed out of the starting 22 due too lack of mobility.

I wish him well, but it is definately nearer the end I would think.

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Supporting the Blues No Matter What

Barnesy, you are joking aren't you! Lance is near the end!

I think the club has $400k pa invested that says he isn't.

I'll take my lead from the club as to where Lance is at.

I think he'll play in defence and teach the young guys how to read the play and direct traffic out of defence.

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A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.

a problem for Lance is that the way this game is umpired if you think on your feet that's called a free kick against he has to learn to dumb down for the modern game.

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This type of slight is alien in the more cultured part of the world - Walsh. Its up there with mad dogs, Englishmen and the midday sun!

3rd year apprentice pastry-cook ??

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GROUND ZERO + DRAFTING YOUTH = SUSTAINED SUCCESS

If he wants to dumb-down, then he needs to read more of the HUN.

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And so while others miserably pledge themselves to the pursuit of ambition and brief power, I will be stretched out in the shade, singing.

Wouldn't that be a strict diet of Mike Sheahan articles ??

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GROUND ZERO + DRAFTING YOUTH = SUSTAINED SUCCESS

Well, that would be enough to make anyone want to insert a drill into their own head for a self-performed lobotomy?

And nice way to work in 2 fat Lance jokes in one thread

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And so while others miserably pledge themselves to the pursuit of ambition and brief power, I will be stretched out in the shade, singing.

Wouldnt be the first time the clubs thrown good money after bad....

Invested near 2 million in him for the last few years...

Means jack shit if Lance isnt up to it...

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Due to recent budget cuts and the rising cost of electricity, gas, and oil....... the Light at the End of the Tunnel has been turned off. We apologize for the inconvenience.

No i am not joking.

As much as I have enjoyed Lance being a Carlton player, his physical shape is not one that I personally belive will take us forward. Sure he will have his days, and yes I will be their supporting him, but I am offering constructive crtitcism on him.

It doesn't mean I don't wish him well, nor that he plays bad, but simply I think that after his next two years we may be back too square one. I hope I am wrong, but so be it.

As I said, I will still support him through and through, but think he is closer too the end.

Let the club be your lead, good for you, but I think they signed him as they panicked a bit, imagine potentially Campo, Lappin, and Whitnall walking out on the club for nothing

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Supporting the Blues No Matter What

I stopped reading right there. Do we really need another 'bash' Whits thread. It has been done to death. At least wait until the first game of the season.

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A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty" -Winston Churchill

L.M 35-06

Could'nt agree more,Mark.

Geezus, the off season is dull isn't it?

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This might sound extreme in the context of alleged sexual assault, drunken violence and a drug trafficking charge...

if the 4 picks were under 184cm onballers then the thread wouldnt exist.

Whitnall will be fine he will do what he has to do to get the job done. Still think that Prenda does look a much better forward than back thou

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Can smell the gf its there for the taking we are the form side

I think this is a really good response.
I disagree with the "fatboy" terminology of the initial post but we should be able to discuss players and their standing in the team.
For what it's worth, I agree with Barnesy to a degree.
We have recruited some good size KPPs over the past 2 seasons and hopefully positions will be hard fought over the next few years.
The more the possession game takes hold, the more players like Lance will struggle. The players did a drill yesterday where the defenders were able to run the ball out if they acquired possession. Lance turned it over nearly everytime he got it.
He has to be far better than that.

Hopefully Kennedy, Bower, Fisher, Hartlett, Fevola and T/Bird will be holding down the key spots in 2-3 years.
If that's the case and Lance is struggling for a spot, it means the Carlton football club will be taking big steps forward.

I also agree with the opinion about why Lance was retained and mentioned it earlier this year.
Like Barnesy I will back Lance as I have continually this pre season but the ball is in his court.
The pressure from below will hopefully be there in the future which will be a big change from the past couple of years.
If a kid is showing a bit and is ready to be blooded, he should get the nod. If that's at the expense of a 26 year old, so be it.

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Looking forward to seeing our potential realised.

No sure what the future holds for Lance but his role at the club to me is less important..Kennedy is the next CHF in waiting and I can see Lance filling at CHF and CHB while the likes of Kennedy, Bower etc develop but after that I think his future is uncertain...he needs to show everyone he is serious about his footy and fitness and be the ultimate professional or he will wind up traded or on the scrap heap...the challenge is before him..can he make a sustained effort for the next three years and just not at contract time....

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"When you have the attitude of a champion, you see adversity as your
training partner."
- Conor Gillen

Q. Where is Lance at in his career?

A. Almost at the end of his time at Carlton.

He is a 26yo "veteran".
We have numerous young supertalented mobile tall KPPs on the list so Lance will be trade bait at the end of the year I reckon.

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There's so much I could say...

Lance was robbed of what should have been his best three years by a knuckleheaded contest-focused game plan. You may feel alright basing you assessment of Lance on one training exercise BV but I've watched Lance over most of his career and there is little doubt that he plays his best football in more possession-based games. Most key forwards these days do. Look at Hall - do you ever see him trying to mark in huge packs? It's all about leading and possessing - right up Lance's alley.