Lalor coach Lance Whitnall discusses return, expectations and recruiting in 2024

31 for 31: Strong pre-season numbers and two practice match wins has given Lalor a much-needed shot of confidence but new coach Lance Whitnall knows there’s no quick fix.

Wayne Faure and Lance Whitnall are rebuilding Lalor.

In 1997, Lance Whitnall was a nervous 17-year-old about to make his AFL debut for Carlton.

On Good Friday, Whitnall will be a nervous 44-year-old about to coach his junior club Lalor for the first time.

“I’m feeling excited, nervous, a few different emotions mixed in one, it’s a relief it’s finally here,” the Bloods great said.

“It’s a bit like I’m starting again and playing for the first time but coaching the club for the first time.”

Whitnall has returned to Sydney Crescent to try and rebuild Lalor.

The club hasn’t won a game since May 2021, a 1063-day and 42-game drought when the Bloods run out to take on Epping in the NFNL Division 3 season opener.

Jonathon McCumber-Kelly in action for Lalor. Picture: Hamish Blair

Nick Anastasi in action for Lalor. Picture: Hamish Blair

Whitnall says the season will be about celebrating the small wins with results largely irrelevant.

A difficult 2023 saw Lalor concede an average of 176 points per game, including 313 against Mernda – the fourth highest score in league history – and forfeit four reserve grade matches as players regularly backed up for two games.

However, there’s a growing positivity after a strong off-season that has seen the Bloods deepen their playing list.

Former captain and club champion Sam Rexhepi returns, while Heath and Ash Patton, Hayden Hunt, Exavier Whitnall, Ethan Hope, Seb Pretty and Nathan Parkes are also on board.

“You’ll find (on Good Friday) for our first game, 14 or 15 blokes are going to miss out on a game altogether,” Whitnall said.

“It’s a good sign for the club and all those blokes have been training as well, the guys are committed and they’re making it hard for us at selection.

“Our first priority was to get some numbers through the door, we did that, and the next priority was to get some talent and we’ve done that.

“We set out at the start to get buy-in, those numbers have brought some other people along, it’s a snowball affect at the moment.”

Whitnall knows he has a big job in front of him.

After finishing his AFL career at Carlton in 2007, the star forward returned to Lalor Reserve for two seasons in the top flight.

He’s excited by the challenge presented and hopes, one day, to help the club jump back up the ladder.

“It’s a big job but I’m looking forward to it,” he said.

“We haven’t had much success over the last few years so to get back and put my imprint on it, try and help out, I’m looking forward to it.

“It’s small steps at a time to rebuild but the plan is to get some success, whether it’s one year, two years, three years – whatever it takes – to get it going in the right direction again.”

Pre-season practice matches have given the club some much-needed positivity.

Lalor has played Essendon District clubs Glenroy and East Sunbury as well as Western club North Sunshine and won the latter two.

Whitnall has been impressed by what he’s seen on the training track since taking the reins in September.

“The boys have got a little bit of confidence out of it,” he said.

“They’re getting an understanding of how we want to play and they’ve improved with each practice match, which is good to see.

“It gets a good feel around the place, gets a bit of belief in the boys that if you put their minds to it, if they work hard, they’ll get the results.

“Whatever happens (on Good Friday) our group is going to keep improving because half of them haven’t played together.

“I’m looking forward to it because I know how much improvement I’ve seen and how much more is to come, so it’s exciting.”

Last season, James Vulic led the club’s league best-and-fairest voting, Nick Anastasi topped the Coaches’ MVP voting and Michael Gravina was the leading goalkicker.

On Thursday night, Scott Dickson was named club captain for 2024, while Hayden Chapman, Nathan Mittica, Hunt and Heath Patton will serve as vice-captains.

Patton and Chapman in particular have caught the eye in pre-season training.

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“Heath Patton, a bloke I coached at Craigieburn, he’s certainly burnt up the track and is leading the way,” Whitnall said.

“I’m looking forward to seeing what he can produce because he’s certainly produced the goods on the track and in the practice matches and there’s a few blokes jumping on the back of him.

“A couple of blokes from last year, since I walked in the door, have improved heaps and Hayden Chapman – I think he missed half the season with injury – has stepped up.

“It’s good to see guys that played last year are better already because of the work they’ve put in.”