EDFL 2018: Craigieburn coach Lance Whitnall reveals his bold plan

Lance Whitnall has big ambitions for Craigieburn after taking over as coach, revealing the club’s five-year plan for the ultimate success in the EDFL.

Craigieburn coach Lance Whitnall is chasing a Premier Division flag by 2022. Picture: Rob Leeson.

LANCE Whitnall has declared Craigieburn is targeting a flag in the Essendon District Football League’s top flight by 2022 as he prepares for his first season in the top job.

The former Carlton captain spent this year as football manager, with the Eagles progressing to the preliminary final under Peter Bugden.

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Craigieburn last competed in Premier Division in 2017 but endured a winless campaign and was relegated.

The club has since replenished its stocks with a host of talented young players and secured the return of star midfielder Jesse Davies, who claimed the Bowen Medal for the best and fairest player in the Riddell District league this season.

“At the start of (2018) we set ourselves to get back to Premier as quickly as we can and I gave myself a five-year window to win a Premier flag,” Whitnall said.

“This will be our second year coming up now … with the young talent we’ve got coming through.

“One more year in this division, they should be ready to go up and play in Premier.

“I’m hoping that it’s (2019). That’s our plan and goal, but hopefully it’s sooner rather than later.”

Whitnall played 216 games for the Blues over 11 seasons at AFL level and received rave reviews for his work as football manager.

The 39-year-old, who has signed on for two seasons, has previously coached Glenroy and spent time with TAC Cup club Calder Cannons.

Josh Vilinskis is one of the young guns at Craigieburn. Picture: Mark Dadswell

Brock Chircop, Josh Vilinskis and Liam Middleton are among the young guns at Craigieburn’s disposal, indicating a bright future.

The Eagles also secured the likes of Dean Limbach, Shannon Smith, Josh Marino and Jacob McNicol last off-season.

Ben Fynch, Ryan Bongetti, Brent Gordon and Limbach were named in the Division 1 Team of the Year.

“It’s a long-term thing for me and hopefully we get back up to Premier. As a club, that’s where we want to be,” Whitnall said.

“We’re out there recruiting.

“We obviously want to keep improving.

“Natural improvement from our kids will get us a long way and then if we can keep adding to them, that way if we do happen to win it and go up to Premier, we are ready to go.

“That’s our plan, to get ready to go to Premier and be a good side.

“We’ve got a great bunch of young kids at the moment and most of them are under 21. There’s another bunch under 23.

“We’ve really got the steps in process to get it right and go up to Premier at the right time and be ready with all these young kids the way they’re coming through.”

Whitnall revealed it was pre-planned at the start of this year that he would take over from Bugden, who was in charge for five seasons.

“Peter had indicated he was coming to the end of his coaching at Craigieburn and we wanted to do it smoothly so we could all keep moving forward as a club,” he said.

Craigieburn lost to eventual runner-up Tullamarine by 22 points in the preliminary final.