Herald Sun article about Lance

[NWTYRX]

THE penny -- and weight -- has dropped for Carlton's probable next captain Lance Whitnall.

The junk food and alcohol of previous off-seasons were replaced by chicken, fish, veggies and only the occasional beer.

"I don't mind a drink, but I cut down more this year than I have a lot of other years," he said.

"I really tried to focus on the weight, I really watched what I was eating and what I was putting in my mouth.

"It was just a combination of alcohol, food and general lifestyle as well."

At 27, and with perhaps four years of AFL left in one of the most talked about bodies in the game, Whitnall won't miss the annual finger-point at his expanded waistline.

"I was getting a little sick of it, the same time every year the same thing was being written about and spoken about," he said.

"They would talk about that and not talk about my footy and how I was playing."

It's a fair point.

Whitnall played every game of the past two years. He finished third in the best-and-fairest in 2005 and won his first this year.

With the captaincy appointment seemingly a formality and age climbing northwards, Whitnall, a father of two boys, says his priorities now are family and footy.

"I've learnt a lot over the past couple of years, about myself, about what's needed to be done to play at AFL level," he said.

"I really do think the penny has dropped . . . I'm 27 now.

"This is my 11th year and 12th pre-season and the body is feeling pretty good. I had a little arthroscope after the season, had some rest and the body is feeling great."

The knee operation forced him into bike-riding to maintain his fitness and he one day clocked up a healthy 64km.

"The doctor recommended it," he said.

"In the past during the off-season I've pretty much jogged and swam, but this time I did bike, 90 per cent on the bike."

Whitnall captained the club for six games when Anthony Koutoufides was injured this year and says he would cherish the job full-time.

He sees the change of leadership as another turning point for a club that has wallowed in darkness these past four years.

"It's been the longest four years of my life," Whitnall said.

The recent off-field dramas involving coach Denis Pagan and Barry Mitchell, the replacement of assistants, and suggestions of a board challenge, grate on the veteran.

"After a while it does get to you," he said.

"As much as you say it doesn't bother you and you go out there and play, but it's been there every day, every week, just about every year for the past four years and it does eventually get to you.

"We just want to turn it around and get some positive stuff for the club and it probably starts with us being competitive and winning games. And I think we're starting to do that."

If appointed captain -- the Blues are expected to announce their skipper before the Christmas break -- Whitnall has one aim.

"I just want to get the club back up where we belong, get us competitive," he said.

"'I came here when the club was a powerhouse, when everyone feared the club from the top to the bootstudder.

"We know we are starting from scratch and we all know we can create history for the club. We've been at our worst and we're coming out of it, we can see the light at the other end. Last year we were hopeful, but this year we can see it."

Whitnall will join the main training group in three weeks.

 

[C4[2]Yo`DooR]

I love that photo ! LOL

 

[NWTYRX]

haha, yeah.. it was with the article

 

[blues4flag]

That's one funny facial expression...
Also, Whitnall on Lance:

Whitnall throws his weight behind Fevola
15 November 2006 Herald-Sun
Mark Robinson

IF LANCE Whitnall is appointed Carlton captain, he wants his disgraced teammate Brendan Fevola beside him, possibly as vice-captain.

The long-time friends have spoken and dealt with the infamous Irish headlock. And although Fevola has been wiped from the potential captaincy, he has a strong ally in Whitnall.

"I would definitely like to have him in the leadership group. Whether it's the vice-captain, deputy vice-captain or just in the leadership group, that's up to others decide," Whitnall said. "But I'd have no issue because I can see he has definite leadership qualities about him.

"He does attract people to him and people listen to what he's got to say. He can say the right things, but he can also say the wrong things.

"If his head is switched on, he can take us in the right direction as well."

Whitnall, like most people, described Fevola's Irish incident as "silly", but says Fevola is repentant.

"He knows he's done the wrong thing, we know he's done the wrong thing and we want to get that behind us now.

"He spoke to the playing group and he was sincere when he said he had stuffed up, but he couldn't take it back.

"Now he wants to move on and continue to build on what he started to build this year for himself."

 

[Funkalicous]

Good to hear, Lance.

That's exactly the sort of maturity and dedication we need frrom all our players.

 

[OZBomb]

Ladies and gentlemen the new captain of the CFC... Popeye The Sailorman

 

[BlueBelle]

Ladies and gentlemen the new captain of the CFC... Popeye The Sailorman

GOLD

 

[as0l0]

more quality output from our club, the momentum is building.

 

[celtic_pride]

Its not a question of if, it's a question of when Big Red is appointed captain.
I don't know why the club is playing games and doing all this interview process when they have made the decision ages ago to make Whitnall captain.
I prefer a quicker and more honest approch so that Whitnall can pick his assistant captains as well IMHO, I think it should be up to the appointed captain and leadership group to appoint the deputies etc, give us some power back to the players as well.

 

[NWTYRX]

im pretty sure that the players vote on matters such as who's in the leadership group

 

[Johnny_3]

last year lance was 8kg over weight going into the preseason. I would love to see how much the guys lost this year. With brains like his imagine what he could do with a better body. his leadership and determination have stepped up a notch all for the beneift of the club which is great. Good work lance, keep going.

 

[HBF]

more quality output from our club, the momentum is building.

We just need to get the off-field issues sorted out, and then we'll really start heading in the right direction.

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

Ladies and gentlemen the new captain of the CFC... Popeye The Sailorman

I'm strong to the finish cos I eats me spinach, I'm Popeye the Sailorman. Toot toot.

Lance used to be Popeye's friend who kept chowing down burgers. I always wanted to be that guy!

 

[douls]

Big fan of Lance but every year he says something like the "penny has dropped" regarding weight/fitness. Hopefuly primed for an even better year in 2007. Would assume with the captaincy he will lift another notch

 

[OZBomb]

I'm strong to the finish cos I eats me spinach, I'm Popeye the Sailorman. Toot toot.

Lance used to be Popeye's friend who kept chowing down burgers. I always wanted to be that guy!

That guy was a champ... whatever happened to Scott Cummings?

 

[Johnny_3]

That guy was a champ... whatever happened to Scott Cummings?

GOLD

 

[Andyt30]

i'd tip if he if can;t get fev as vice captain he won't take on the captancy be a good bribe

 

[NWTYRX]

He made 114 for Lalor today