Mick Malthouse stands in defence of under fire Carlton star Dale Thomas

UNDERFIRE Carlton midfielder Dale Thomas has enormous pride and will be hurting right now that he’s not at his best and given the criticism that came his way after Round 1.

Round 7: Carlton v Collingwood Dale Thomas and Mick Malthouse Picture: Wayne Ludbey

Dale Thomas is a son, a brother, a partner and a father.

He is also an AFL footballer.

Like any of his teammates or opponents, personal public criticism hurts those around him, probably more than it hurts him.

Because he knows he is busting his guts every week for his club.

BOLTON: WE DON’T BUY INTO CRITICISM

To make a point, a print journalist who I get on well with was written about in an opposition newspaper, just a throw away line that wouldn’t have meant much to the journalist writing the story, but enough to cause deep stress for this reporter who lost sleep over it and admitted to me how tormented he had felt.

Humans have skin only so thick.

OK, so “Daisy” didn’t have a good game in Round 1.

Dale Thomas and Mick Malthouse Picture: Wayne Ludbey

Round 1 — one game into a whole season.

But he wasn’t the only one. Carlton lost to Richmond by 43 points so he had lots of friends.

Sydney was odds-on to beat Port Adelaide last week but it didn’t because too many its stars were off the pace.

Dan Hannebery (respectfully) had a stinker. Jarrad Waite kicked 1.7 in North Melbourne’s loss to the Eagles, hardly a great contribution.

Josh Kennedy kicked seven goals straight, maybe that was the difference. And Grant Birchall and Josh Gibson off the backline didn’t help Hawthorn’s cause in its loss to Essendon.

Four more big names, and many more, who didn’t live up to standards in Round 1.

You can bet they each swore to make amends this week, because that’s what professional athletes do.

Daisy has enormous pride and he would be hurting right now that he’s not at his best.

Maybe his youthful absolute best is behind him. Maybe. He is a “team first” player so he’ll be concerned too for his teammates.

When some players change clubs they just go for the ride, the rest commit themselves wholly to their new home.

Daisy arrived fully committed to the Blues. But his first season was always going to be about regaining confidence after major foot surgery.

So who then could have predicted that after an outstanding pre-season he would dislocate his shoulder in the first minute of Round 1 in his second year at Carlton?

Dale Thomas has been crisitisised for a disappointing round 1 performance.

I was devastated for him because, having had the same injury myself as a player, I know how tough it is to come back from.

Every player coming off an injury has to go through a process to get back to the top level of their game. The time and adjustment it takes varies.

Daisy plays a physical game so he needs to have confidence in his body.

His foot was no longer an issue, but he was back to square one in rehabilitation.

Throughout his recovery (he tried to return six weeks later before being forced to have surgery late in the season) he also worked diligently with his younger teammates to help their progress.

I know Daisy, and I also know he is an extremely valuable player for Carlton.

He has an outstanding knowledge of football which he willingly shares to assist other players and coaches, as I’m sure he has done this week in the Blues’ preparation for today’s clash with Melbourne.

He is mentally tough and never shirks an issue. He wants the big jobs and always responds because he thrives on a challenge. He needs to feel wanted, and welcomes feedback.

Some players just want to be coached, told what to do and how to do it.

Others enjoy a relationship, the chemistry mixes with mutual respect and it becomes a bond. A bond with boundaries — because the player is still very aware of what is required of him, and in fact often pushes himself harder to achieve it.

I have formed close ties with many of my players that will last a lifetime.

I regularly catch up with Glen Jakovich, Tony Evans, James Clement, Anthony Rocca, Heath Shaw and Ben Johnson, just to name a few.

And I love to see my old boys doing well as coaches themselves — currently John Worsfold and Don Pyke.

Daisy and I began a kick-to- kick session in the changerooms before a game and it became a ritual. It helped us both to relax, and focus. And it cemented our relationship.

Previously at Collingwood I had kicked with Paul Licuria and Ben Johnson and at the Eagles with Ben Cousins and Jakovich.

At the Blues it was with Chris Judd and then Daisy again.

We are creatures of habit and that five-minute routine was as important for me as it was for the player.

According to reports, Daisy has 14 more games to prove himself before his contract will kick into a further year.

There seems to be a lot of emphasis on his supposed wage.

A contract that was negotiated by his manager and the Carlton list manager, football operations manager and CEO, who were all eager to secure him.

No one was held to ransom, everyone said yes.

It was free agency at work. So lets not judge every possession on every cent earned or we are setting a very dangerous precedent/trend.

Ross Lyon not long ago rated Dale Thomas as the best player in the competition.

The Daisy I know is doing everything in his power to get back to his best.

And maybe when he does his critics will start singing a different tune. I might even hum along.