Back of the Addy , has raised the name of whitnall as an option for the Cats. Interesting seeing we play them this week.Ive posted at the bottom for our out of Aus boarders. What do we think?
I have no doubt that he would have more footy smarts than KK but could he really return to his best form, would he really increase our ability to kick scores and how much would he cost short and long term?
I think a change may well return him to his best , just this year in the wiz fiz he made Moons look silly , hes got talent. Our game style is similar to how Carlton was playing when he was at his best
If he just kicked the goals that KK misses we would be better of by at least 1 a match. That this would have us in the top4
How much? , thats the kicker , Our first round plus Spriggs and Slade?Who knows? Anyway it would hurt , espp when we see the kid down the track picked with our swapped pick. eg the one used for Gerge given to Melb got them Miller , ouch. Maybe we got the guys already here that just need more time.Whitnall could give them those 3 years.
Overall , it might just depend how far we go and what pick our first round is? No doubt , a fit Whitnall would increse our sides ability and he would like to be on the end of Cool Shannon, Tenace, Ablett, Kelly, Mackie and his experence would be useful.
Article below :
Big Blue option
Wednesday, July 21
DAVID DAVUTOVIC
IS Lance Whitnall the final piece of Geelong's jigsaw in the hunt for an elusive premiership?
The much-maligned Carlton centre half-forward could be on the market at season's end as Denis Pagan looks to further reinvigorate his list with early draft selections and/or trades.
Whitnall's credentials can't be questioned and neither can his footy smarts, his intelligence making up what he lacks in endurance. . . or does it?
His weight problem, which subsequently affects his fitness and aggravates injuries, remains the big mystery and the primary reason he is even being considered as trade bait.
The other factor is what the Blues would get in return while creating some salary cap relief.
Whitnall shone under the David Parkin regime to be one of the AFL's most feared forwards in 1999 and 2000.
At the height of his eight-year career, Whitnall kicked 70 goals (third in the AFL) and led the league in marks (208) in 2000 to earn All-Australian honours. That was on the back of a 55 goal and 191 mark haul the season prior.
But last year was by far the worst of his career, managing only 11 goals, 179 disposals and 73 marks in 12 games. This year he's improved slightly with 20 goals, 171 touches and 60 marks in 14 appearances.
Whitnall, who turns 25 next month, has attempted to keep his weight in check since '99 by visiting a Camp Eden `fat farm', on the Gold Coast yearly, an idea instigated by the coaching staff at the time.
So is he worth the risk for Geelong? Former teammate Glenn Manton said if there's a club that can transform Whitnall, it's the Cats.
``Whitnall's had difficulty along the way but he's far from a spent force and if (Geelong's fitness and conditioning coach) Loris Bertolacci got hold of him, I believe he could enhance his on-field ability and increase his longevity as a footballer,'' Manton said, who knows Bertolacci from their time at Essendon in the early `90s.
``You have to be very specific with the individual fitness and health maintenance programs and a lot of clubs in the AFL suffer from training people in the (James) Hird mentality and Lance isn't an aerobically based athlete, he's a power athlete and he could really benefit from Loris' increased knowledge and skills.
``Whitnall would benefit from a specified training regime or a program which emphasises his enormous power attribute.''
Parkin said Whitnall had only three or four years of AFL football left in him and would always struggle with his fitness, but would be surprised if Pagan elected to trade him.
``I think Lance is pretty crucial in terms of where Carlton's going and people,'' Parkin said.
``Lance is always going to struggle in terms of his absolute fitness or body shape, I don't think that's ever going to change but he would be a continuing asset and I would be very surprised if Carlton released him.''
Former Geelong defender Tim McGrath, who had numerous duels with Whitnall over six years, drew a parallel with Cameron Ling, who arrived at the Cattery as a `chunky' full-forward.
``You look at Ling when he came to Geelong; he was a chunky forward who was never destined to be a league onballer, but all he's done is transform his diet and work ethic and turned into a gun onballer with a fantastic endurance base who can run with anyone,'' McGrath said.
``Whitnall's obviously getting paid well . . . but whether you're a rookie or a star, you have a duty to put yourself out in the best possible shape you can and I don't thing he's ever done that.''
Flying Start's Ricky Nixon would neither confirm nor deny Geelong's interest in Whitnall, who's contracted to the Blues for another season, but said he has fielded a number of calls.
``A lot of other clubs have inquired about Lance. . . there's 15 other clubs that need a key forward, but Carlton's adamant he'll remain at Optus Oval,'' Nixon said.
I have no doubt that he would have more footy smarts than KK but could he really return to his best form, would he really increase our ability to kick scores and how much would he cost short and long term?
I think a change may well return him to his best , just this year in the wiz fiz he made Moons look silly , hes got talent. Our game style is similar to how Carlton was playing when he was at his best
If he just kicked the goals that KK misses we would be better of by at least 1 a match. That this would have us in the top4
How much? , thats the kicker , Our first round plus Spriggs and Slade?Who knows? Anyway it would hurt , espp when we see the kid down the track picked with our swapped pick. eg the one used for Gerge given to Melb got them Miller , ouch. Maybe we got the guys already here that just need more time.Whitnall could give them those 3 years.
Overall , it might just depend how far we go and what pick our first round is? No doubt , a fit Whitnall would increse our sides ability and he would like to be on the end of Cool Shannon, Tenace, Ablett, Kelly, Mackie and his experence would be useful.
Article below :
Big Blue option
Wednesday, July 21
DAVID DAVUTOVIC
IS Lance Whitnall the final piece of Geelong's jigsaw in the hunt for an elusive premiership?
The much-maligned Carlton centre half-forward could be on the market at season's end as Denis Pagan looks to further reinvigorate his list with early draft selections and/or trades.
Whitnall's credentials can't be questioned and neither can his footy smarts, his intelligence making up what he lacks in endurance. . . or does it?
His weight problem, which subsequently affects his fitness and aggravates injuries, remains the big mystery and the primary reason he is even being considered as trade bait.
The other factor is what the Blues would get in return while creating some salary cap relief.
Whitnall shone under the David Parkin regime to be one of the AFL's most feared forwards in 1999 and 2000.
At the height of his eight-year career, Whitnall kicked 70 goals (third in the AFL) and led the league in marks (208) in 2000 to earn All-Australian honours. That was on the back of a 55 goal and 191 mark haul the season prior.
But last year was by far the worst of his career, managing only 11 goals, 179 disposals and 73 marks in 12 games. This year he's improved slightly with 20 goals, 171 touches and 60 marks in 14 appearances.
Whitnall, who turns 25 next month, has attempted to keep his weight in check since '99 by visiting a Camp Eden `fat farm', on the Gold Coast yearly, an idea instigated by the coaching staff at the time.
So is he worth the risk for Geelong? Former teammate Glenn Manton said if there's a club that can transform Whitnall, it's the Cats.
``Whitnall's had difficulty along the way but he's far from a spent force and if (Geelong's fitness and conditioning coach) Loris Bertolacci got hold of him, I believe he could enhance his on-field ability and increase his longevity as a footballer,'' Manton said, who knows Bertolacci from their time at Essendon in the early `90s.
``You have to be very specific with the individual fitness and health maintenance programs and a lot of clubs in the AFL suffer from training people in the (James) Hird mentality and Lance isn't an aerobically based athlete, he's a power athlete and he could really benefit from Loris' increased knowledge and skills.
``Whitnall would benefit from a specified training regime or a program which emphasises his enormous power attribute.''
Parkin said Whitnall had only three or four years of AFL football left in him and would always struggle with his fitness, but would be surprised if Pagan elected to trade him.
``I think Lance is pretty crucial in terms of where Carlton's going and people,'' Parkin said.
``Lance is always going to struggle in terms of his absolute fitness or body shape, I don't think that's ever going to change but he would be a continuing asset and I would be very surprised if Carlton released him.''
Former Geelong defender Tim McGrath, who had numerous duels with Whitnall over six years, drew a parallel with Cameron Ling, who arrived at the Cattery as a `chunky' full-forward.
``You look at Ling when he came to Geelong; he was a chunky forward who was never destined to be a league onballer, but all he's done is transform his diet and work ethic and turned into a gun onballer with a fantastic endurance base who can run with anyone,'' McGrath said.
``Whitnall's obviously getting paid well . . . but whether you're a rookie or a star, you have a duty to put yourself out in the best possible shape you can and I don't thing he's ever done that.''
Flying Start's Ricky Nixon would neither confirm nor deny Geelong's interest in Whitnall, who's contracted to the Blues for another season, but said he has fielded a number of calls.
``A lot of other clubs have inquired about Lance. . . there's 15 other clubs that need a key forward, but Carlton's adamant he'll remain at Optus Oval,'' Nixon said.
