Malthouse not a magic pill: Judd

Updated November 02, 2012 07:10:55

Carlton captain Chris Judd has warned teammates against expecting decorated coach Mick Malthouse to turn the AFL club around on his own.

Judd said he had long been a Malthouse admirer and expected the three-time premiership coach to have a quick impact.

But he cautioned that rebounding from a disappointing season would take club-wide improvement.

"It's really important that we don't view (Malthouse) as a panacea that's going to fix all our problems," Judd said.

"At the end of the day, there's 44 players on that list, there's a staff of 70 or 80 people and it's not up to Mick to come in and solve all the problems at our football club.

"It's up to everyone who's there to work out how they're going to improve on what they've done before, to be accountable and be a part of the solution."

Malthouse guided West Coast to premierships in 1992 and 1994 and Collingwood to the 2010 flag.

But Judd took more from Malthouse's transformation of the Magpies from a wooden-spoon side when he took over ahead of the 2000 season to grand finalists in 2002-03.

"As much as they didn't win a premiership, I think to get to two grand finals in a row with the list he had there, that's almost the most impressive feature of his coaching career," the Blues' skipper said.

Judd is yet to meet Malthouse face-to-face since his appointment so his view of the veteran coach is based mainly on reputation.

He said that was of a coach who ruled from the top and expected players to toe the line.

"He probably doesn't go down the player empowerment model, which a lot of modern-day coaches do," Judd said.

The 29-year-old dual Brownlow Medallist is yet to announce whether he will stay as skipper and plans to consult with Malthouse at the Blues' preseason camp in Arizona, which starts on November 9.

While coy on his plans, he understood the speculation.

"There comes a time in every player's career where it makes sense for him to move on, whether that's move on from the game or move on from a leadership role to open up opportunities for young people," Judd said.

He was speaking at an event to promote this month's Financial Review Corporate Cycling Challenge, backing the Care Connect team who are riding to build support for a National Disability Insurance Scheme.

AAP

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, carlton-3053

First posted November 02, 2012 07:10:55

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Malthouse has big plans for Gibbs at Carlton

Updated November 05, 2012 22:42:06

New Carlton coach Mick Malthouse has already enjoyed an up-close glimpse of what Bryce Gibbs could deliver in the AFL.

Malthouse has great expectations for the 2006 number one draft pick, who was a big disappointment for the Blues as they dropped out of the top eight to 10th in 2012.

There is a sense that Gibbs' career has stalled, with the highly-rated player having minimal impact across half-back.

Two years ago, Malthouse coached Gibbs during Australia's International Rules tour of Ireland and came away a big fan of the utility.

"He was simply outstanding over there," Malthouse said.

"Let me say, there wasn't any `good' - he was outstanding.

"So I know his capabilities.

"He has to be thrown the ball and (we) say `right, now you have to run with it'."

Malthouse also made it clear that he sees Gibbs as a midfielder, first and foremost.

"I'd like to think he's going to be playing in the middle, but it's coupled with half-back and half-forward," Malthouse said.

"He certainly has to come up that next level.

"There's 20 minutes there (each quarter) - he has to be able to do eight to 10 minutes and that's quite significant.

"That takes half a quarter away from others, to give them a little bit of relief and also be able to play in other positions, which I'm pretty keen to do."

Malthouse took charge of Carlton training for the first time on Monday, a month after the tumultuous end to this season.

The Blues sacked Brett Ratten before their last match and soon after appointed Malthouse, the three-time premiership coach.

Carlton were keen to recruit Collingwood key forward Travis Cloke, but once he re-signed with Malthouse's old club they had a minimal role in the trade period.

That reflects Malthouse's confidence that this group has plenty to offer.

"Any club who finishes outside the eight have a fair bit of work to make up," he said.

"But you know what's on our side? History.

"No eight has ever stayed the same and I'm a great believer in history.

"That gives any side outside the eight great buoyancy to go forward."

"The side has the mechanics to be a good football side.

The first impressions have been encouraging for Malthouse in his fourth AFL senior coaching assignment.

'"I've been very, very happy with what I've seen," he said.

The Blues will soon have a pre-season training camp in Arizona, where Malthouse and his players will start learning more about each other.

The players also have to elect their leadership group, with Malthouse saying current captain Chris Judd had to decide whether he wants to retain the role.

Meanwhile, Carlton announced on Monday that former Melbourne captain Brad Green had joined them as a midfield development coach.

AAP

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First posted November 05, 2012 22:42:06

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Malthouse pays tribute to McCarthy

Updated September 11, 2012 15:35:11

The first public duty Mick Malthouse had in his new AFL guise as Carlton coach was to mourn John McCarthy.

Malthouse coached McCarthy at Collingwood for four years before they went their separate ways at the end of last season.

As Malthouse went into a media role, McCarthy was traded to Port Adelaide.

The 22-year-old died earlier this week while on an end-of-season holiday with Power team-mates in Las Vegas.

Referring to McCarthy, Malthouse opened his Tuesday morning media conference to announce his appointment as Blues coach by saying he has a heavy heart.

"It does put things in perspective," Malthouse said.

"It's one of those moments I guess, we come to realise that being an AFL footballer doesn't give you an immunity to tragedies.

"A lot of boys would like to think they wear a Superman suit around, but unfortunately that's not the case."

Malthouse remembered sitting in the stands while McCarthy toiled away in the VFL, trying to stake a claim for senior selection.

McCarthy had many friends at the Magpies and his death has hit the club hard ahead of Saturday night's semi-final against West Coast.

The team will wear black armbands for the match against the Eagles.

Magpies captain Nick Maxwell says he will remember McCarthy as someone who was always smiling and positive.

"He was someone who had the potential to be a leader of the future for us," Maxwell said.

"He was always someone you could talk to and rely on and follow what we were trying to do around the football club.

"In the end, due to circumstances and not being able to break into the team, he looked for opportunity from elsewhere.

"But that had nothing to do with him as a person or the kind of guy he was around the football club."

Maxwell and Magpies coach Nathan Buckley says they have encouraged players who were close to McCarthy to talk about their grief.

"Anyone's who's a brother or a son or has a close mate, if you can imagine that they're not sitting beside you any longer, that's what some of our boys are feeling," Buckley said.

"We've got some guys who were really close to John.

"His time at the club is still fondly remembered and it's just a tragedy for his family and friends to be going through what they're going through.

The club's feeling it as well and it's just a tragic circumstance - we deal with it as best as we possibly can."

AAP

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First posted September 11, 2012 15:31:55

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Carlton confirms Malthouse as coach

Updated September 11, 2012 15:36:41

Mick Malthouse has been appointed as Carlton's new coach after signing a three-year deal to take charge of the Blues.

The three-time premiership coach was unveiled as the Blues mentor at a media conference on Tuesday.

He replaces Brett Ratten, who was sacked last month after the Blues failed to qualify for the finals.

"It does give me a great sense of honour to be given the opportunity to coach this famous club," Malthouse said.

"I just see it as an extension of life, to be able to stay in the game of football and more importantly ... to be offered the coaching job and be part of this football club."

Malthouse, who has denied any involvement in Ratten's dismissal, will commence his new role on November 1.

He stepped down as Collingwood coach in 2011 after a 38-point grand final defeat to Geelong.

And the 59-year-old says he had no contact with Carlton until after Ratten's departure was confirmed.

"There are going to be those naysayers who say it happened previous to that," Malthouse said.

He insists the first contact he had with the Blues was a meeting with club officials eight days ago.

An early matter for Malthouse's reign will be whether the Blues recruit out-of-contract Magpies key forward Travis Cloke.

Asked if he would go after Cloke, Malthouse replied: "absolutely".

Cloke played under Malthouse at the Magpies after making his senior debut in 2005.

Malthouse is set to overtake Collingwood legend Jock McHale's record of 714 matches as a senior coach.

He is on 664 matches after his stints at the Bulldogs, West Coast and the Magpies.

The Blues have not confirmed who will assist Malthouse in 2013, saying the decision will be made internally at a later date.

Assistant coaches Mark Riley, Paul Williams and Alan Richardson are believed to be at risk of losing their jobs.

Blues president Stephen Kernahan admits "there could be a change" in the assistant coaching ranks.

Meanwhile, Malthouse paid tribute to late Port Adelaide midfielder John McCarthy, who fell to his death on an end of season trip to Las Vegas last weekend.

Malthouse coached McCarthy during their time together at the Magpies.

"It does put things in perspective," Malthouse said.

"It's one of those moments when we come to realise that being an AFL footballer doesn't make you immune to tragedies."

ABC/AAP

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First posted September 11, 2012 10:09:28

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Malthouse pays tribute to McCarthy

Updated September 11, 2012 15:35:11

The first public duty Mick Malthouse had in his new AFL guise as Carlton coach was to mourn John McCarthy.

Malthouse coached McCarthy at Collingwood for four years before they went their separate ways at the end of last season.

As Malthouse went into a media role, McCarthy was traded to Port Adelaide.

The 22-year-old died earlier this week while on an end-of-season holiday with Power team-mates in Las Vegas.

Referring to McCarthy, Malthouse opened his Tuesday morning media conference to announce his appointment as Blues coach by saying he has a heavy heart.

"It does put things in perspective," Malthouse said.

"It's one of those moments I guess, we come to realise that being an AFL footballer doesn't give you an immunity to tragedies.

"A lot of boys would like to think they wear a Superman suit around, but unfortunately that's not the case."

Malthouse remembered sitting in the stands while McCarthy toiled away in the VFL, trying to stake a claim for senior selection.

McCarthy had many friends at the Magpies and his death has hit the club hard ahead of Saturday night's semi-final against West Coast.

The team will wear black armbands for the match against the Eagles.

Magpies captain Nick Maxwell says he will remember McCarthy as someone who was always smiling and positive.

"He was someone who had the potential to be a leader of the future for us," Maxwell said.

"He was always someone you could talk to and rely on and follow what we were trying to do around the football club.

"In the end, due to circumstances and not being able to break into the team, he looked for opportunity from elsewhere.

"But that had nothing to do with him as a person or the kind of guy he was around the football club."

Maxwell and Magpies coach Nathan Buckley says they have encouraged players who were close to McCarthy to talk about their grief.

"Anyone's who's a brother or a son or has a close mate, if you can imagine that they're not sitting beside you any longer, that's what some of our boys are feeling," Buckley said.

"We've got some guys who were really close to John.

"His time at the club is still fondly remembered and it's just a tragedy for his family and friends to be going through what they're going through.

The club's feeling it as well and it's just a tragic circumstance - we deal with it as best as we possibly can."

AAP

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First posted September 11, 2012 15:31:55

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Malthouse says he had no input on Blues axings

Updated September 10, 2012 15:30:32

Mick Malthouse says he had nothing to do with Carlton's decision to sack three assistant coaches.

Malthouse has distanced himself from the axing of three assistant coaches at Carlton, the club he could join as early as tomorrow.

There is little doubt that the three-time premiership coach will take over from Brett Ratten as Blues senior coach.

Carlton may announce Malthouse's appointment on Tuesday morning.

But Malthouse insists he had nothing to do with the departures of Mark Riley, Paul Williams and Alan Richardson, who learnt last week they will not see out their contracts.

"That is an internal process that Carlton has run with, that is the way it has worked out, Malthouse told 3AW on Sunday.

"I do not sack people when I have not signed with the football club - what say have I got?

"They make the decisions."

Malthouse admitted when he was senior coach at Collingwood, there was a "difference of opinion" involving Richardson and other members of the football department.

Richardson, a highly-rated assistant coach, eventually left the club.

"The issues were not necessarily with myself - but he had a problem or a run-in with another assistant coach and into the fitness section," Malthouse said.

Carlton could appoint Malthouse in the next couple of days, after they sacked Ratten before round 23.

Malthouse's long-time friend Robert Wiley is tipped to be one of the Blues' new assistant coaches.

The club also announced last Thursday that development coach Darren Harris would leave in November and return to Perth.

AAP

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First posted September 10, 2012 15:28:05

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Ratten gone, Malthouse on the radar

Updated August 30, 2012 17:13:08

Carlton has confirmed former Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse is under consideration to take over from the sacked Brett Ratten next season.

Ratten could finish with a 12-10 record if the Blues beat St Kilda on Sunday and there is mounting speculation Ratten would have kept his job if Malthouse was not available.

But while denying Carlton had formally approached Malthouse, Blues president Stephen Kernahan admitted the three-time premiership winning coach was on the radar.

"We'll be speaking to people like Mick Malthouse," Kernahan said.

"We're looking for a respected senior coach who has hopefully coached a team to a premiership."

Other names linked to the post include former Sydney Swans coach Paul Roos, current Greater Western Sydney assistant coach Mark Williams and former Geelong coach Mark Thompson.

Ratten was sacked after days of speculation he would not be at the helm next season.

The final straw was the Blues' dismal 12-point defeat to Gold Coast Suns last weekend which sparked intense media scrutiny on Ratten's role.

The former Carlton midfielder, who in 2012 became just the third former player to play and coach in 100 games for the club, says he feels responsible for the Blues' poor season.

"This club is built on success and playing finals and winning premierships is the ambition," Ratten said.

"I suppose as a club we set some really strong goals at the start of the season to play finals and we didn't achieve that.

"The club has been ruthless in its quest for success and that is one of its strengths."

Ratten had no preference for who takes over next season, saying it makes no difference to him.

"I don't really care who coaches next year," Ratten said.

"It's not me ... I wish it was, but it's not."

Kernahan said sacking his close friend and former team-mate was a tough decision but one which needed to be made.

"It's a close call, it's a harsh call, it's an each-way call," he said.

"Our standards are high. We don't apologise for that.

"This is a harsh call on Brett Ratten but I stand by that."

Ratten took over as Carlton coach in 2007 after the dismissal of Denis Pagan and led the Blues to finals campaigns in 2009, 2010 and again in 2011.

But Carlton's inability to transform from finals hopefuls to a genuine premiership force placed the spotlight on Ratten.

Despite being asked to step down he said he had no intention to skip Carlton's final game of the season against St Kilda at Docklands.

"Why hide? Why run away? If you want to be a leader ... you sometimes have to confront difficult situations," Ratten said.

"It's not about me, it's about making sure we finish the season on a really good note," he added.

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First posted August 30, 2012 09:45:07

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McGuire slams Malthouse for not supporting Buckley

Updated April 16, 2012 09:54:48

Club president Eddie McGuire has slammed former coach Mick Malthouse insisting he "wouldn't have a friend at Collingwood today."

Malthouse and McGuire have been embroiled in an increasingly bitter war of words which has escalated following the 60-point loss to Carlton on Friday.

After just three games in charge of the 2010 champions, Nathan Buckley is already under pressure and McGuire, who also slammed Magpies fans for not supporting the team during Friday's defeat, feels Malthouse is adding to his former assistant's problems.

"Mick, if you're listening out there mate, your legacy is secure," McGuire said on Triple M.

"You've been a sensational servant to the Collingwood football club, we love you, but move on now because picking over the scabs, you're doing exactly what you used to hate (former coach) Tony Shaw doing to you.

"Give Bucks a bit of a go mate, because when Bucks was the captain he carried that team for you, he played his guts out for you - give the bloke a bit of a chance, he's in his first year."

McGuire said Malthouse "reneged" on the five-year contract put to him in 2009 that would see him coach for two years moving to a director of coaching role with Buckley as coach from this season on.

"We signed off on a plan two-and-a-half years ago that Mick was all over - and if he wasn't, certainly his manager was. We had it and he decided not to stay at the club," he said.

"But I'm disappointed this morning that basically he's bagged me, bagged Bucks, bagged (football manager) Geoff Walsh - which is very disappointing because of the support Geoff Walsh has given him.

"He's come out and blamed the grand final loss on Dane Swan, Chris Tarrant and the umpires. That's hard.

"You can't claim the glory for the coaching plan to get to the grand final and then bag the players who actually followed it out.

"I love Mick and I've supported him 100 per cent, but I tell you what, he wouldn't have a friend at Collingwood today. He hasn't missed anyone."

McGuire also bristled at suggestions from Malthouse that Leon Davis, a key defender for the Magpies in 2011, would have stayed with the club if there had not been a change of coach.

"I spoke to Leon Davis 15 minutes after the grand final and he told me that he was going home for family reasons," McGuire said.

"It wouldn't have mattered if he was offered a million bucks, he was going home.

"Leon was going for every reason other than football, let me tell you that. Whether Mick was going to be there or not, I don't think that was going to make any difference."

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First posted April 16, 2012 09:14:39

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Malthouse parts ways with Pies

Updated October 01, 2011 20:20:29

Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse will leave the AFL club immediately, saying he does not feel his planned new role would be worthwhile.

Under the succession plan that club president Eddie McGuire brokered more than two years ago, Malthouse stood down as coach after Saturday's 38-point grand final loss to Geelong.

He hands over to assistant Nathan Buckley and was supposed to stay on in a new role as director of coaching until 2014.

But it became clear this year that Malthouse was uneasy about specifics of the new role.

He said soon after Saturday's defeat that he had decided about six weeks ago not to take up the job.

McGuire said the decision did not come as a surprise and he praised Malthouse for his 12-year term as Collingwood coach, which featured last year's drought-breaking premiership.

"I know what I'm not doing, I'm not coaching and I won't be at Collingwood," Malthouse said.

"The role by name sounded pretty good, but in reality I'm not 100 per cent sure that I would be of value to the football club.

"I don't want to take money under false pretences, I think that Nathan needs space."

Malthouse also announced last Sunday that he would not coach again, despite the offers that will inevitably come from other clubs over the next couple of years.

Malthouse, 58, is ending a 40-year involvement in the game as a player and coach.

He also led Collingwood for 12 years to the 2002 and 2003 grand finals and will leave the game as a three-time premiership coach.

"The club has been fantastic about it, don't get me wrong about this, and from day one Eddie has indicated that he would like it to work," he said.

"I think along the line it all sounded good, but reality-wise, as Ed said, he would like to think Nathan will be a 10-year coach or more.

"So I think that in fairness to everyone at the football club, I think they need a fresh start and I can't give them a fresh start from my position in that role.

"It would be selfish to stay on in the role ... I just don't see any point."

Malthouse said he felt like he could be letting McGuire down by not staying on in the new role.

McGuire said he had known "for a while" that Malthouse would leave as soon as this season ended.

"We've had this conversation for a long time, it became clear to Mick that he needed a break," he said.

"It underlines what we did two years ago - Mick is finished, he's hit the wall mentally, emotionally ... he gave everything, there's no more, and the whole idea was that Mick would hit the finish line flat out.

"It would have been nice for him to stay on in the position, but I've known for a fair while that he was oscillating.

"The whole idea of why there was never anything in concrete ... is because it was very emotional, the whole thing."

McGuire said the Magpies would make announcements over the next few days, but would not confirm whether they would still have the director of coaching role without Malthouse there.

He added Buckley was "ready" to become coach.

McGuire also praised Geelong, saying it was an example for what Collingwood would need to do to bounce back from this grand final loss.

AAP

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First posted October 01, 2011 19:38:26

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Malthouse lauds unselfish Beams

Updated September 30, 2011 08:24:45

Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse has praised Dayne Beams for following the example of Simon Prestigiacomo and ruling himself out of the AFL grand final.

A year after Prestigiacomo sensationally told Collingwood he could not play on the eve of the grand final draw against St Kilda, Malthouse said Beams had done much the same thing.

Prestigiacomo also missed the grand final replay and retired at the end of last season.

The number 35 guernsey was passed to Alex Fasolo, who will now take Beams' place in the side.

Beams has groin soreness and he was the only change for the Collingwood and Geelong line-ups ahead of Saturday's grand final.

Malthouse said Beams, who only had two disposals in the preliminary final final win over Hawthorn, had come into his office on Wednesday and said he was not fit.

"Dayne Beams has done a Simon Prestigiacomo, for a start, and he needs to be congratulated," Malthouse told One HD's The Game Plan.

"He was in tears telling me he didn't think he could get through a match.

"That great number 35 is now going to be worn in a grand final and no one could be more pleased than Simon over that."

Malthouse joked that Fasolo had "tagged" him around the club all week before receiving the good news that he was back in the team.

"It was like Luna Park, it was outstanding," Malthouse said of Fasolo's reaction.

The coach added Fasolo would have learnt a lot from his quiet round 24 game against the Cats, who won by 96 points.

The first-year player was dropped for the preliminary final when Dale Thomas returned from suspension.

"Geelong were very powerful, I don't know whether they targeted him or not, but he certainly knew he was in a game," Malthouse said.

"He will come out of that ... knowing exactly what to expect, hopefully how to counter it - and I'm pretty sure he does.

"It was a no-brainer in many respects ... I think he's a big-stage player."

Three star players have been in doubt for the grand final because of injury - Collingwood big men Darren Jolly and Ben Reid and Geelong forward Steve Johnson.

While Johnson continues to have treatment on his wrenched left knee, Jolly and Reid trained strongly on Wednesday.

"We gave it to them on Wednesday ... I don't know whether you can actually wait until the last training session," Malthouse said.

"I don't think it does the right thing by the young bloke who might replace him.

"We don't want to play emotional games with them."

Malthouse was emotional at the end of last Friday night's epic preliminary final win over Hawthorn and admitted the nerves are starting to build ahead of Saturday.

But he said the Pies would be better for that three-point win.

"Emotionally we're far better served this week than what we were last week," he said.

"We have a different sort of mindset and I'm just delighted in it.

"I don't say that's going to win us the game ... we've ridden that emotional wave.

"Sometimes last-quarter form is worth going into the next week with and we have very good last-quarter form."

AAP

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First posted September 29, 2011 22:00:14

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Grand final will be my last game: Malthouse

Updated September 25, 2011 13:24:05

Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse is adamant he will never coach again after Saturday's AFL grand final.

Speculation has been rampant about Malthouse's future for two years, since the Magpies drew up a succession plan ensuring he would hand over the head coaching role to Nathan Buckley at the end of this season.

But his immediate future remains unclear, with Malthouse saying the specifics of his new role as Collingwood's director of coaching are still to be determined.

Asked on Sunday if he thought the premiership decider against Geelong would be his last as coach, Malthouse replied: "Yes I do."

"I have to be careful because my wife is sitting over there," Malthouse told the Seven Network.

"You say 'no' and somewhere down here [pointing to his stomach] says 'perhaps', but I'm saying now, there's no perhaps.

"This is a no, this is the end."

Malthouse agreed with fellow coaching great Leigh Matthews that the desire to have the job would never leave him.

"Allan Jeans was a coach to the end, he wasn't coaching, but he was a coach to the end," Malthouse said.

"That's what will always be with me, I can't just give up that competitiveness.

"At some stage in life, you've got to say 'let's be fair'.

"Life is too long (sic) in this case to go and be selfish for so long, you've got to be able to give something back."

Malthouse was then asked if he would stay at Collingwood for next year as coaching director, another key feature of the succession plan.

"That's still to be worked out," he said.

AAP

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First posted September 25, 2011 11:44:11

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Malthouse eyes the finish line

Posted September 30, 2011 11:43:00

It took 663 games for the hard man to reveal, publicly at least, that he had a heart.

And if things go as he says they will, the tears he shed in the coaches box after the nail-biting preliminary final win over Hawthorn won't be repeated after Saturday, no matter what.

Barring the unlikely outcome of another drawn grand final, Mick Malthouse will coach his 664th, and final, AFL game this weekend.

And if anyone was ever to live up to a "no comeback" promise, it is Malthouse.

"I know I'm going to reach the top of the mountain and there's going to be no tomorrow in terms of that 40 years that I've been involved," Malthouse said at the start of his final week as a football coach.

"It's just going to stop."

Those who have seen Malthouse in both his football incarnations are among the true believers.

"He coaches like he played," says St Kilda legend Kevin "Cowboy" Neale who played with Malthouse in his 53 game-stint with the Saints.

"Uncompromising, disciplined, straight up and down."

A lot of that came from their old St Kilda coach, Allan Jeans, according to Neale.

"He used to tell us all that the most important thing we could do was to be ourselves," he said.

Whatever Malthouse may be, he is himself - and it has invariably been good enough.

Malthouse wasn't a champion player, but in 174 games he got the best out of himself and was rewarded with a premiership at Richmond in 1980.

When he retired after three more seasons, Malthouse had only his playing record to recommend him to Footscray, which appointed him as coach in 1984 at the tender age of 30.

In that first season the Bulldogs challenged for the finals, finishing seventh, improving to third in 1985 and going down by 10 points to Hawthorn in the preliminary final.

Tough out west

After four more seasons with Footscray, Malthouse took up one of the less-sought-after jobs in the AFL with newcomer West Coast.

It is the no-nonsense, and, sometimes heartless approach to football that is remembered well by some of the Eagles players of the time.

"Mick always put it to us straight and hard," two-time Eagles premiership player Brett Heady said.

"But almost every one of us got a look at the other side. He always knew when to help and when to encourage."

The West Coast captain in 1990 was Steve Malaxos, the club's inaugural best-and-fairest winner and a Sandover medallist - and a player who discovered how uncompromising the new coach could be.

Malaxos played 20 games during 1990 including the drawn qualifying final against Collingwood and the replay.

Malaxos was dropped for the remaining finals matches, and replaced as captain.

The really tough part was that the club didn't allow Malaxos to travel with the team to Melbourne for the semi and the preliminary final.

West Coast won two premierships with Malthouse in 1992 and '94 and made the finals in each of his 10 years as coach.

At Collingwood the Malthouse exterior has been at its most crusty, and its most agreeable.

There have been run-ins with journalists and photographers, obtuse "ox is slow, earth is patient" responses and the peculiar retirement-but-not-departure deal that has led to the confusion about his future.

In hindsight Malthouse did remarkably well to get limited Collingwood teams all the way to the 2002 and 2003 grand finals, where they twice came up short against Leigh Matthews' powerhouse Brisbane line-up.

And he was at his very best in the seven days after the 2010 drawn grand final, allowing the Magpies to play with freedom in the replay.

Icon of the game

Scott Watters has seen both sides of Malthouse, as a player at West Coast and as an assistant coach at Collingwood.

"When you measure legacy, once you give someone a little bit of time away from the game, you'll realise even more so the impact that he's had on the game," he said.

"Because he has been such a constant for so many years, we probably take a lot of things for granted.

"When Kevin Sheedy retired a couple of years ago, all of a sudden there was a big hole there and Mick will leave a similar hole.

"He's an icon of the game."

Malthouse's final week as an AFL coach shapes as one of his best.

It began with Dane Swan's Brownlow medal on Monday and the heartfelt praise of the player for his coach.

And, if fairytales have a place in football, it will end with a premiership on Saturday.

It should also be remembered for the insight it has provided into a coach who truly believes it isn't about him.

Talk of his retirement and his future is off the agenda.

His most important job, he told Channel 7's AFL Game Day, will be about getting his players ready to win.

"Any individual stuff will be about the playing group," he said.

"You cannot afford for one person's plight to interfere with the team.

"My boys understand that. The club knows that. We'll be doing everything for the team.

"How they feel for me individually and how I feel for them individually will be hidden. It will be well camouflaged."

Not too well, you hope.

AAP

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, australia, vic, collingwood-3066

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Future bright for Magpies: Malthouse

Updated October 02, 2011 12:55:18

Mick Malthouse has said an emotional public goodbye to his players and expressed confidence that Collingwood are in the process of creating an AFL dynasty.

Speaking at the Magpies' post-grand final dinner, Malthouse said no-one in the club was irreplaceable and the club had come a long way since he started as coach 12 years ago.

Saturday's 38-point loss to Geelong marked the end of Malthouse's reign as he hands over to assistant Nathan Buckley under the succession plan negotiated in 2009.

Malthouse, who coached the Magpies to last year's premiership, also said post-match he would leave the club immediately and not take the director of coaching job that was another feature of the succession arrangement.

The mood at Collingwood's grand final dinner was emotional and upbeat, with Malthouse given a standing ovation as he walked to the stage.

"It is a wonderfully young, vibrant side - look at the kids who didn't play today," Malthouse said.

"We've set in motion an opportunity for a dynasty.

"That playing group has no need whatsoever to be embarrassed about their performances this year.

"We have a group that will go forward.

"Nanette (his wife) said to me 'don't be embarrassed about telling them you love them' - and I won't say that.

"I will say this - I respect them greatly, I respect the way they go about it, I respect their camaraderie, I respect their friendship, I respect their love of our football club.

"I respect their work ethic, their devotion to want to win, their devotion to their supporters."

Club president Eddie McGuire, who brokered the succession plan, was also emotional as he heaped praise on Malthouse.

"We failed by 30 minutes today against a great club but Mick you have nothing to apologise for," McGuire said.

"Your shadow has been cast, and your image and indelible mark has been left on this football club.

"Your name will be revered forever in Collingwood history alongside the greats of (Jock) McHale and Phonse Kyne and Leigh Matthews; the people who lived and breathed and delivered for our football club.

"I say without reservation Michael Malthouse is one of the greatest men that I've had the pleasure to have ever met, and Nanette has been fantastic.

"We wish you the best of luck in the life ahead."

McGuire also revealed that captain Nick Maxwell, who suffered a broken thumb a few weeks ago, also broke a knuckle early in the grand final.

Maxwell thanked Malthouse and promised Collingwood would rebound from the grand final loss.

"To Mick, Nanette and (their) family - I'm sorry we let you down today mate, but you've been unbelievable to all of us, we can't thank you enough for the contribution you've made to our careers," Maxwell said.

"We weren't good enough today, but we were beaten, not broken.

"I know these guys, I know we will be back better than ever next year ... we will make amends."

AAP

Tags: australian-football-league, sport, collingwood-3066, geelong-3220, melbourne-3000, vic, australia

First posted October 02, 2011 10:04:06

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Buckley and I never great mates: Malthouse

Updated October 03, 2011 16:30:29

Newly-retired Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse says he and successor Nathan Buckley were never great mates and he does not believe Buckley wanted him to stick around.

After Malthouse announced on Saturday he was walking out on a three-year contract to work with Buckley as director of coaching, the Magpies on Monday appointed ex-Western Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade to the job instead.

Malthouse, whose last game of his 28-year coaching career was Saturday's grand final loss to Geelong, was unsure how rookie coach Buckley would cope working as coach alongside an experienced mentor.

But he was certain the new Magpies coach had not wanted him in the role.

"If it's the same role that I was intended to be appointed to, Nathan was a bit resistant to it, I'm sure he was," Malthouse told Melbourne's SEN radio.

"I absolutely, totally can understand it and if I put myself in his shoes, I would understand it.

"It will be interesting to see how it works out, but I reckon Rocket (Eade's) mindset on football is very, very sound and he'll help the football club and he'll help Nathan.

"So good luck, I don't wish anyone any ill.

"I think it's terrific, but that position is finished for me and that's it."

Three-time premiership coach Malthouse said he had a solid working relationship with Buckley, who served under him as first a player, then as an assistant coach, but they were never close.

"We were never best mates, we worked on a professional basis," Malthouse said.

Malthouse said he had formed strong friendships with several other of his former players and assistants, but with Buckley, there was never the same "chemistry".

"It was never a great friendship, because he had his mates and I had a different opinion of my mates, so we went different ways that way," Malthouse said.

"But with say (Guy) McKenna and perhaps Brad Scott and Dean Laidley, there was a strong bond, in terms of we had more things of (common) interest, whereas Nathan's got his and I've got mine.

"That doesn't make you not work together."

Eade's official job title at the Magpies is football and coaching strategist.

The four-time Hawthorn premiership player brings great experience, having coached the Bulldogs for almost seven seasons, including to three preliminary finals.

He previously coached Sydney for six-and-a-half seasons and will also coach Australia in the upcoming International Rules series against Ireland.

Eade's appointment rules him out of the vacant St Kilda head-coaching position, for which he was being considered.

The Saints are the only club of the six who have lost or sacked coaches this year yet to appoint a replacement.

AAP

Tags: australian-football-league, sport, collingwood-3066, vic, australia

First posted October 03, 2011 15:14:53

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Media Call: Mick Malthouse

Published:Thursday, July 7, 2011 12:19 AESTExpires:Wednesday, October 5, 2011 12:19 AEST

Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse says North Melbourne is primed to play finals football this year, ahead of their clash at the MCG on Sunday.

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Malthouse tips North for finals

Updated July 7, 2011 12:37:00

Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse says North Melbourne is a big chance to play AFL finals this season.

The Kangaroos had won four games in succession before being stopped by St Kilda last week and are currently 10th on the ladder.

Collingwood and North will clash at the MCG on Sunday.

Malthouse says that, irrespective of the positions on the table, the Magpies are expecting a tough fight against a side he believes will be in the finals mix this year.

"I've had them in the eight before the season started and I still think they've got a wonderful chance to be in the eight," Malthouse said.

"I think they're a terrific side. I look at that side and think, they're young and aggressive, with a fantastic game structure.

"I admire the coach (Brad Scott) and I admire their club spirit - we're in for a fight."

Malthouse said that were it not for a few unlucky decisions this year, the Kangaroos would probably already be in the top eight.

"The win-loss ratio - I think they've been very, very stiff in a couple of decisions that may well have gone either way for them," he said.

Malthouse was highly complimentary of North captain Brent Harvey, who he coached in the Australian team against Ireland in 2008 but said Collingwood would have to tackle an all-round talented side.

"Our energies won't be going towards one player," he said.

Malthouse also rejected suggestions that Scott was out-coached by St Kilda's Ross Lyon last week.

"It's amazing the experts out there who pot-shot from outside in," he said.

"Did they do any different last week than they did the previous four weeks where the applause went out to say how good they were in the air and how good they were crumbing and how great the games were?" he asked.

"They're all experts."

- AAP

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, australia, vic, collingwood-3066, north-melbourne-3051

First posted July 7, 2011 11:56:00

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Malthouse keen on top six

Updated June 3, 2011 16:22:00

Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse says the AFL has done the right thing by not increasing the number of teams in the finals series despite expansion.

And he would like to see the finals sharpened up even further, suggesting a top six from next season's 18-team competition would make for a better September.

Malthouse said mediocrity should not be rewarded, and was relieved to see the league decide this week to keep an eight-team finals series at least until 2013.

"What makes elite sport elite is that it's hard to make it (to the finals)," Malthouse said.

"Mediocrity, it just kills a competition. We've got to make sure it's something worthwhile to fight for, rather than falling into a finals series."

Malthouse believes the addition of Greater Western Sydney next season will again weaken the competition's standard, although it will eventually rise back and beyond its current level.

But he said the temporary drop-off in overall standard made it more important to maintain a top-quality finals series.

"We're already seeing when you take out of our football community 100 players and distribute them to two new sides, you automatically weaken the standard of the competition. It drops marginally," he said.

"The standard of the competition is only as strong as its weakest link.

"Let's keep the elite format of making the finals.

"Make it as hard as you can to make the finals series, and you'll have a great finals series.

"Is it commercial value or is it to see a great competition? If you want to really see the best sides, make them earn a spot in a top six - six out of 18, that would test sides."

Meanwhile, Malthouse is not backing away from the on-air radio comments that infuriated Melbourne counterpart Dean Bailey.

He labelled Demons forward Addam Maric a cheat for claiming a disputed goal in a match last weekend, saying it was important players do not falsely claim goals and play the game in the right spirit.

The Collingwood coach was commentating on the match for Melbourne radio station SEN.

When asked about the incident and whether he would like it if one of his players was similarly labelled, Malthouse said: "If he did, he did (cheat). Have a look at it.

"We have an obligation to this game, a massive obligation to this game."

Bailey, whose Demons were belted by 47 points by Carlton, had expressed his anger this week about what Malthouse said.

Collingwood skipper Nick Maxwell said Malthouse's comments were meant as part of a wider discussion on fair play in the sport.

"It's been blown out of all proportion. He never mentions any player, it was more a broad opinion on what would happen in that situation," Maxwell said this week.

- AAP

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, australia, vic, collingwood-3066, melbourne-3000

First posted June 3, 2011 11:43:00

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Media Call: Mick Malthouse

Published:Thursday, May 19, 2011 1:29 AESTExpires:Wednesday, August 17, 2011 1:29 AEST

Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse said he expects captain Nick Maxwell and defender Ben Johnson to be back in the AFL side to play Adelaide on Sunday at Docklands.

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Malthouse rues disallowed goal

Updated May 14, 2011 10:06:00

Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse has described a controversial umpiring decision at the end of his team's AFL loss to Geelong as "the fastest whistle in history".

The decision meant a goal to Magpies onballer Scott Pendlebury was disallowed and the Cats won an absorbing match by three points, 8.17 (65) to 9.8 (62).

It was the reigning premiers' first loss since round 22 last year, while the Cats are the only unbeaten team after eight rounds under new coach Chris Scott.

With only a couple of minutes left and Geelong up by four points, a free was paid to Collingwood ruckman Cameron Wood about 50 metres out.

The ball had spilt clear immediately after the free and Pendlebury played on, kicking a massive goal.

But the ball was brought back and Wood's set shot did not make the distance.

Geelong was able to then able to clear the ball from defence and hang on for the win.

Soon after the match, AFL media manager Patrick Keane explained to journalists that the umpire had already blown time on before Pendlebury took his shot, meaning play could not continue.

Keane said the umpire had lost sight of the ball when he had blown his whistle.

Under AFL rules, it is supposed to be up to the team which has possession immediately after a free or mark whether it plays on or not.

Malthouse said in his post-game media conference: "I thought we almost got over the line when Pendlebury popped that one through.

Asked if he was surprised the goal was not allowed, Malthouse added: "I thought that (advantage) was the rule, unless they've changed it again, I'm not sure.

"Clearly, to me, it was an advantage."

Keane then told Malthouse that time-on had been blown.

"Time had been blown? ... OK Patrick, that's the fastest whistle in history," Malthouse said.

"I'm not here to say right or wrong, all I'm saying is it's remarkable, given what we've been told - that players make up their minds.

"You stop or you go, we went, Geelong went, we kicked a goal, (but) it came back.

"Someone has clearly got it wrong - us, them or whatever."

At the end of his media conference, Scott also wanted to know why the AFL had commented so quickly after the match about the controversial incident.

Keane replied that umpires boss Jeff Gieschen had confirmed the circumstances to him.

In the third quarter of the match, Collingwood defender Alan Toovey was stretchered from the field after a sickening collision.

Toovey was running back with the flight of the ball when he cannoned into Cats ruckman Tom Hawkins, charging from the opposite direction.

The Collingwood defender was bleeding from the mouth and nose after the impact.

Toovey was taken to hospital, but later returned to the MCG.

The Magpies are hopeful his facial and chest injuries are not serious.

Geelong captain Cameron Ling was also taken off in the third term with a shoulder injury, while Collingwood ruck-forward Leigh Brown suffered a bruised calf.

Geelong captain Nick Maxwell (calf) and Cats defender Darren Milburn (back) were late withdrawals.

There were rumours before the match that Maxwell might have a lower-leg stress fracture, but Malthouse said that was wrong and is hopeful his skipper will be available for next Sunday's Docklands stadium match against Adelaide.

Geelong defender David Wojcinski will come under video review for a first-term incident where his leg made contact with Alan Didak.

The Collingwood forward was limping afterwards and had to leave the field, but was able to return and play out the match

-AAP

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, australia, vic, collingwood-3066, geelong-3220, melbourne-3000

First posted May 14, 2011 08:32:00

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Malthouse breaks ranks on Anzac Day

Posted April 20, 2011 20:00:00

Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse has broken ranks on the thorny issue of whether the AFL Anzac Day blockbuster should be shared among clubs.

While league chief executive Andrew Demetriou wants the Magpies and Essendon to continue the tradition they started in 1995, Malthouse admits he has become uneasy about the hugely-successful annual fixture.

The clash attracts a capacity MCG crowd and has become the league's biggest match outside the finals.

But Malthouse notes the success of the match has as much to do with the occasion as the big followings that Collingwood and Essendon bring to the match.

The playing of the Last Post and the minute's silence in honour of Anzac Day make the build-up to the opening bounce one of the great spectacles in Australian sport.

"I feel very privileged, but I feel a bit selfish at times," Malthouse said after training on Wednesday.

"I wonder what it's like for other clubs who are looking in, going 'we've got every right to be part of it as well, why aren't we?'

"So that bites into me a little bit.

"Is it a right, or do we treat it as a privilege? Certainly in my eyes, it's a great honour and privilege to do it."

His comments came after a suggestion from former Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy, who helped start this Anzac Day tradition, for games in every state on the day.

Malthouse is in his last year as Collingwood coach, but denied he was making the comments because he will not have the role next year.

He also readily acknowledged Magpies president Eddie McGuire will disagree with him.

The two clubs have fiercely opposed calls from other clubs to share the MCG fixture on Anzac Day.

Malthouse theatrically looked behind him during his media conference in the Collingwood boardroom, as if he was fearful that McGuire might be listening.

"It's probably now I've only had the intestinal fortitude to come out and say ... is there a photograph of Eddie in here anywhere?," Malthouse said

"He's probably looking over my shoulder, probably stabbing me somewhere."

But Demetriou has no such doubts about the future of the blockbuster.

"I know it gets up people's noses, but hopefully Collingwood and Essendon are playing it long into the future," he told the Ten Network.

As for the game itself on Monday, Malthouse said ruckman Darren Jolly was a good chance to return from the knee injury that sidelined him last weekend.

This year's Anzac Day blockbuster will also be a rare instance where the form of the two teams will come close to matching the occasion itself.

Collingwood, the reigning premiers, are unbeaten after four rounds and Essendon have shown great improvement to hold sixth spot.

"I can be super-critical of our player group, we're sitting on top of the ladder with (187) per cent and we've had moments where we've been ordinary," Malthouse said.

"But we're human ... if we play to our best (of) what we've done in the last four weeks, then we'll win.

"If we play to our worst, we won't - if we play somewhere in the middle, it's going to be a very good game."

- AAP

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