Stalemate has to end - and Mick Malthouse must make the move, writes Mark Robinson
MARK ROBINSON: MICK Malthouse knows it’s over and so does Carlton. This ridiculous stalemate has to end. Malthouse has to walk away.
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MICK Malthouse knows it’s over and so does Carlton.
This ridiculous stalemate has to end. Malthouse has to walk away. With dignity, but walk away nevertheless.
Malthouse has made thousands of hard decision on players over three decades and has asked hundreds of players to make hard decisions on themselves — all for the good of the club.
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It’s time Mick made a hard decision on himself. Malthouse has lost the players and no matter how many times they say they love him, they want him and they need him, they are playing without soul.
How energy sapping it must be for Malthouse to know that people around him aren’t up for the fight.
That he can’t motivate the players, no matter their deficiencies, must eat at him.
The words from club chiefs aren’t exactly supportive, either. Three times in five weeks president Mark LoGiudice has said Malthouse will coach out the season. In none of those statements has he offered a word of encouragement.
When chief executive Steven Trigg joined the debate, he said the Blues had to determine if Malthouse, at his age, had the energy. It was an awkward comment and unquestionably more awkward when Trigg and Malthouse met the Monday afterwards.
From LoGiudice’s position, the current arrangement is a business one.
He has a contract and I will honour that contract, he has said. But footy is more than business.
It’s emotional togetherness — club with coach, coach with players, club with fans.
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It’s broken down on all fronts. Carlton Football Club is in no man’s land. Fans are fed up. Not just with Malthouse, but with the plight of the club.
Just 16,000 fans turned up to Saturday’s Etihad Stadium game against Greater Western Sydney. Not only are Carlton fans speaking with their feet, it’s clearly apparent this mess is effecting the Blues’ bottom dollar.
The season is nearly a wipe-out, but it can be salvaged.
Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou told ABC TV’s Offsiders on Sunday: “You waste a year in sport, it takes you three to recover.”
He was talking about Carlton. The season can be salvaged — without Malthouse.
From afar, it looks as if there is an unenviable situation where the club won’t sack Malthouse and Malthouse won’t walk.
It’s like a chess game and one is waiting for the other to make a move. Malthouse has to be selfless and make the move. For the good of the club.
The breakdown is certainly not all his fault, but how many times has he asked players to be selfless in 30 years.
It is time for Mick to be selfless. The club, regardless of whatever it stands for at this time, needs a change.
It’s a pity Malthouse didn’t have a magic wand and wave it, making 15 players disappear and replace them with 15 others, because the players invariably get off scot-free at these times.
It’s almost a get-out play for the players, when it’s the players who have let the coach down in the first place.
This has happened at Carlton.
It happened when Malthouse arrived in late 2012. The club overrated its list. From there, players have left and players were booted.
The Blues cannot ignore the simple question of why Jeff Garlett, Eddie Betts and Jarrad Waite have flourished at other clubs.
Why couldn’t they be one-club players?
What also can’t be forgotten is that 18 months ago Carlton was four goals off a preliminary final.
And now it’s a basket case.
Anyway, if the club wanted Malthouse, surely it wouldn’t put him through this much pain.
POTENTIAL CARLTON COACHES
JohnWorsfold, 46: West Coast premiership coach in 2006 and said to be keen on a return to the coaching ranks after leaving the Eagles after the 2013 season.
Mark Thompson, 51: Dual premiership coach at Geelong who might be ready for another crack after a high-profile cameo in the hot seat with Essendon last year. Commentary on Fox Footy betrays a man who still has a passion for the craft.
Brendon Bolton, 36: A perfect record filling in for five games at Hawthorn for an ailing Alastair Clarkson last season. Question is whether Carlton will take a gamble on a coach with limited – or no – senior experience.
John Barker, 40: In fifth year as an assistant at Carlton after stints working under Ross Lyon at St Kilda and Alastair Clarkson at Hawthorn. Played for Fitzroy, Brisbane and Hawks, retiring in 2006.
Blake Caracella, 38: Highly rated Geelong assistant who won flags as a player at Essendon and Brisbane. Part of Geelong’s 2011 premiership campaign.
Robert Harvey, 43: Senior assistant to Nathan Buckley at Collingwood after stints at Carlton and St Kilda. Won two Brownlow medals in a stellar playing career.
Adam Kingsley, 39: Port Adelaide premiership player in 2004; worked at the Power as an assistant coach for four years after retiring before joining St Kilda as an assistant coach.
Mark Harvey, 49: Vastly-experienced coach, now a senior assistant to James Hird at Essendon. Was Fremantle coach for five years before losing favour. Spent two years at Brisbane before making his way back to the club where he played in three premierships and spent many years as an assistant to Kevin Sheedy.
Matthew Knights, 44: Former Essendon coach (2008-10) now on Chris Scott’s staff at Geelong after initially joining the Cats as VFL coach in 2012.
Michael Voss, 39: Five-year run as senior coach at Brisbane ended in his sacking during the 2013 season. After a year in the media has returned to coaching ranks as Port Adelaide’s “midfield manager”.
Brenton Sanderson, 41: Dumped as Adelaide coach at the end of 2014 after three seasons in charge – made a preliminary final in 2012 but Crows were disappointing in his final two seasons. Now at helm of the AFL Academy and keeping name in the spotlight through media appearances.
Guy McKenna, 46: Inaugural Gold Coast Suns coach sacked at the end of last year after four seasons. Made his name in coaching game as assistant to Mick Malthouse at Collingwood. Record at the Suns looking better with each Suns loss and another maintaining a profile in the media.
Stuart Dew, 35: Highly rated senior-coach-in-waiting who knocked back the chance to join Melbourne as Paul Roos’ 2IC and anointed successor to stay with the Sydney Swans as John Longmire’s right hand man. Won flags at Port Adelaide and Hawthorn as a player.
Originally published as Stalemate has to end - and Mick Malthouse must make the move, writes Mark Robinson
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