Seen in the Carlton rooms following the recent match with North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium was Lance Whitnall, the Club’s current games record keeper in the famous No.8 guernsey.

Whitnall, with 216 senior appearances through 11 seasons in the No.8, set the benchmark, followed by two-time premiership player Trevor Keogh - a 208-gamer over as many seasons in the number.

Next in line is Matthew Kreuzer, who come Sunday’s match with GWS at Etihad Stadium, chests the banner in game No.150 – and with a total of 68 games lost along the way since his debut in Round 3, 2008, the Blues’ big man would otherwise have eclipsed big Lance’s games record in the No.8.

Lance Whitnall is the Blues' games record holder for the No.8. (Photo: AFL Media)

Carlton statistician Stephen Williamson this week noted the Kreuzer-Whitnall connection with the Club’s northern corridor. Williamson reminded that Kreuzer becomes the second Carlton player formerly of the Northern (Preston) Knights to reach the 150-game milestone after Whitnall; and the second Carltonian to 150 who previously turned out for Northern Football League club Bundoora.

The other is former Carlton director Barry Armstrong, who represented the Blues in 204 games through 13 seasons, which also took in the 1972 and ’79-winning grand finals. 

Barry Armstrong thumps the footy forward, Windy Hill, circa 1978. Trevor Keogh watches on. (Photo: Carlton Football Club)

In closing, and if you’ve ever wondered why Kreuzer has tended to let his football do the talking, consider the following; 

A total crowd of 6,635,519 people have cast their collective eye over Kreuzer’s 149 senior Carlton appearances at an average of 44,534 per match.