Mick Malthouse needs to get on with the job at Carlton, writes David King

MICK Malthouse may prove to be his own worst enemy and could possibly cost himself his own job if this post-game nonsense continues, writes David King.

Round 1 Carlton v Richmond

THE Carlton Football Club has been a confused organisation.

It has been an organisation that’s become pretty good at incorrectly apportioning blame. From Brett Ratten to the recruiting department, shipping out their best ruck talent to Adelaide and virtually giving away their most productive forwards.

It’s as if the Blues’ key stakeholders refuse to accept where they reside in the football landscape. It’s a landscape that has become home to too many errors.

The ex-players, long-time supporters and powerbrokers are accustomed to Carlton rectifying all situations with sheer wealth. The AFL pillars of the salary cap and the national draft do not allow for quick fixes, which is something the Blues simply haven’t had the patience for.

FEUD: NO LOVE LOST IN MICK v STEVO

Instead, the Blues have slaughtered the draft in recent years and have been left for dead by the upper echelon of the competition as the errors pile up.

Mick Malthouse’s coaching future is their next critical decision. Most expect the decision won’t go Mick’s way, but not many can offer a logical reason as to why.

Carlton simply aren’t talented enough to defeat the top bracket of the competition. The Blues could claim only one win from 11 matches against top-eight sides last season, but five of the losses came by less than two goals which shows they’re competitive.

The players play for Mick.

Richmond controlled last week’s game after quarter time and that’s a reflection of the current talent gap between the two. But overlooked was Carlton’s start, with 14 shots at goal in the first 40 minutes of football. Carlton could’ve put this game beyond Richmond early.

David King says Mick and the Blues made the wrong call by not playing Levi Casboult against Richmond. Picture: Colleen Petch

In the post-game wash Mick becomes his own worst enemy.

The non-selection of Levi Casboult was an error given no other player in the Carlton team plays that role. Lachie Henderson and Liam Jones don’t create drop-of-ball opportunities like Casboult does, but Mick refused to concede that fact. The waffle that followed was counter-productive to both Malthouse and Carlton.

Carlton took 11 marks inside the forward 50m, but more specifically, Henderson was targeted with eight entries for only one mark. Jones was the go-to man only three times because he simply doesn’t work hard enough.

The ground level opportunities were non-existent — only three loose ball gets for the day — as there was no reference point to crumb. Casboult at least draws the football, has a presence and the crumbers know where to run for possession or to start to defend via forward tackling pressure. Malthouse should have just told us the truth instead of spin.

The Dale Thomas injury was a body blow, but hardly likely to render the Carlton forward line useless. Again, the explanation that followed appeared to draw long bows. Would the footy world disagree if Mick simply stated they aren’t good enough at the moment?

Dale Thomas’ injury hurts, but won’t cripple the Blues’ forward line. Picture: Colleen Petch

Malthouse may prove to be his own worst enemy and could possibly cost himself his own job if this post game nonsense continues. Mark Stevens’ childish baiting and antagonising of Mick after every loss is tiresome and isn’t helping Mick’s prime opportunity to communicate with the Carlton members.

Mick’s argument that not being re-signed will prove a distraction for the players is self-serving. Obviously he’s concerned about his own appointment and that of his assistants, but all involved accept the risks regarding tenure when entering the AFL coaching ranks. Malthouse created this tension at Collingwood and Carlton cannot allow this to happen.

President Mark LoGiudice and his board will have to decide whether Mick is the right man for the future, but they must also be aware this is no longer a prime job. The Blues are a considerable distance from the once-touted “big four” clubs and no longer sit beside Richmond, Essendon and Collingwood given the lack of star power in their under-25 group.

The Blues’ next senior coaching appointment is more in line with the St Kilda or Brisbane model as opposed to the Adelaide and Port Adelaide talent-rich lists which were previously dragged down by poor systems and issues under the previous coach.

Right now, Carlton is a dangerous opponent with some matchwinners. They’re well coached and are always competitive. Surely there’s not much more a coach can do?

Malthouse takes his troops west against a West Coast team that also has more questions than answers. I have no doubt that Carlton will tonight play more consistent football than the Eagles — with and without possession — and fly back with the four points.

Carlton have the 14th rated draw (fifth easiest) and the next 5-6 weeks screams of opportunity. The Blues play Essendon, St Kilda, Collingwood, Brisbane and GWS so don’t be surprised if we see them in the top eight after Round 7. If they are, then surely they’ve got the right man at the helm.

This side definitely needs an end-of-season external review that pulls no punches, does no favours and doesn’t sugar-coat. Then, finally, they might just accept that they need to head back to the draft and regather themselves for a period of time before climbing back up the ladder.

I am a Mick Malthouse fan, but less waffle, less involvement in external issues and more coaching will allow the subsequent results to do the talking. Then 2016 will look after itself.

Or will Carlton just keep making mistakes?