“Big Red” barnstormed his way into the winner’s circle on Friday night - and if the North result is anything to go by he’ll be slapping backs at Paterson’s Stadium in a fortnight.
“I reckon I’m a lucky charm - I’ll be back,” said Lance Whitnall, the former Carlton Captain, club best and fairest and All-Australian representative.
Whitnall is one of those former players who still fronts up on matchdays to cast a discerning eye over today’s team. Another is David Kernahan, who was also on hand in the rooms as the players belted out one of the more passionate versions of Lily of Laguna.
Whitnall said it all for the former players when he said “I get to as many games as I can and I love watching the boys play”.
“It was great to see the boys notch a great win like that tonight and fantastic to see blokes like ‘Waitey’ (Jarred Waite) get up like that.”
Whitnall, a 216-game centre half-forward through 11 seasons for the Blues, was always known for his football smarts - and only too happy to cast astute judgment on today’s Carlton model and where it was heading.
“The club is certainly heading in the right direction, that’s for sure,” Whitnall said. “Funny game football. Last week everyone was down, this week they’re all up again, which just goes to show it turns around pretty quickly.
Resplendent in suit and tie as a guest at the Carlton President’s Luncheon, Whitnall still chases the occasional footy for Glenroy reserves as a fill-in and oversees the fortunes of the senior team as Coach.
Has the game taken its physical toll? “My knees are hurting a bit and I’ve already been told I have to go under the knife, so it will happen at some stage.”
