Mick Malthouse says he’d like to coach again, but Mark Robinson writes it won’t be happening

Mick Malthouse has put up his hand to coach again but the ‘disrespectful’ reaction of a former Carlton player gives an indication of the mood surrounding the former Pies and Blues mentor’s hopes of a return.

Mick Malthouse has put his name forward to coach again. Picture: Mark Stewart

He’s an honest fighter, Mick Malthouse.

And he doesn't care what anyone thinks.

It's why he admitted at the weekend he would like to coach again.

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It wasn't an off-the-cuff comment, either.

It was a deep and considered response to a question on the ABC which started out as a lash at comedy and ended with the real knowledge Malthouse would like to be approached by one of three teams looking for a senior coach.

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The public responses to Malthouse's response were typically harsh.

Too old. Too bitter. Too selfish. Too arrogant. He stuffed Carlton. Go back to Collingwood.

One of the most disrespectful was from former Carlton player Nick Graham. He simply said LOL (laugh out loud) on Twitter.

Lol https://t.co/H70GZVrKO5

— Nicholas Graham (@nickeygraham) July 21, 2019

Malthouse, 65, is a polarising figure, but when a 48-game failed player trashes a Hall of Famer who coached 718 games, which is the most in AFL history, you know the angst is real.

It probably says more about Graham than it does Malthouse.

Why Malthouse advertised himself at the weekend only Malthouse can answer.

Maybe it is tough to let this coaching caper go.

Maybe he thinks he's still better than half the current coaches and certainly better than the current interim coaches.

Still, there's a sense of sadness to see him throw his hat in the ring.

Mick Malthouse’s time at Carlton ended prematurely.

Malthouse left the Pies after a grand final loss.

Isn't it best to wait until asked — in this case by football clubs and not media comrades — before spruiking yourself?

If Malthouse was to return to football, surely it could only be in a coaching mentor role.

Not that it worked that well at Collingwood because Malthouse quit before it began.

Even if that were to happen for Malthouse in 2020, it could only be at North Melbourne.

Interim coach Rhyce Shaw last week said, in the event of him winning the full-time role, which is the logical assumption, he would welcome working alongside an experienced figure such as premiership coach Paul Roos.

If Roos, then why not Malthouse? He did coach Shaw after all.

The problem is Malthouse has always been the alpha male of his footy clubs and any new club would be wary of him observing in a secondary position, mainly because he's never done it before.

Let's be frank, Malthouse won't be at St Kilda if Brett Ratten wins the coaching role, and there's more chance of Donald Trump going to Carlton than Malthouse going back there.

So, it's North or nothing.

Malthouse aside, there seems to be a groundswell of support for the interim coaches — Shaw, Ratten and David Teague at Carlton.

But there is also a wariness about interim coaches and, in most cases, a misconception there's always a spike in performance after a coach is sacked and replaced by an assistant.

Since 2000, the interim coach has won 12 games and lost 11 in the first week in charge.

In the second week in charge, there's been five wins and 17 losses.

It makes Teague's performance at Carlton — four wins from six games — and Shaw's record at North Melbourne — four wins and three losses, the past two losses by five and 12 points — both stand out.

02/05/1988. Footscray coach Mick Malthouse with Doug Hawkins. Michael Malthouse.

Malthouse coached West Coast to flags in 1992 and 1994.

And a recent Herald Sun poll had 42 per cent of 4000 respondents say Ratten should coach the Saints. The next best was Robert Harvey with 18 per cent.

What we do know is North Melbourne, Carlton and St Kilda will go through a process before appointing their coach.

AFL Coaches Association boss Mark Brayshaw indicated no-one can assume any of the three interim coaches will get the senior gig.

“Our advice to the interim coaches is it provides a great opportunity for learning and exposure to the senior role,” Brayshaw said.

“And typically, whilst they don't get appointed, they end up historically with a significantly longer period in the game.

“So we encourage them to be pragmatic about the likelihood of them getting the job when they're appointed and milk it for all its worth because it has a nice habit of enhancing their career.”

CARETAKER CURSE?

Interim AFL coach record since 2000

1st game: 12W/12L 50% win rate

2nd game: 6W/17L 26% win rate

2001

Ben Allan (Damian Drum, Frem)

2 Wins, 11 Losses. 1st game L, 2nd game L.

Grant Thomas (Malcolm Blight, StK)

1W, 6L. 1st L, 2nd L.

2002

Paul Roos (Rodney Eade, Syd)

6W, 4L. 1st W, 2nd L.

2004

Neil Craig (Gary Ayres, Adel)

4W, 5L. 1st win, 2nd loss.

Donald McDonald (Peter Schwab, Haw)

2W, 3L. 1st L, 2nd W.

2007

Mark Harvey (Chris Connolly, Frem)

4W, 3L. 1st W, 2nd L

Brett Ratten (Denis Pagan, Carl)

6L. 1st L. 2nd L.

Mark Riley (Neale Daniher, Melb)

3W, 6L. 1st W, 2nd L.

2009

Darren Crocker (Dean Laidley, NM)

3W, 1D, 6L. 1st L, 2nd L.

Jade Rawlings (Terry Wallace, Rich)

3W, 1D, 7L. 1st W, 2nd L.

2010

Matthew Primus (Mark Williams, PA)

5W, 2L. 1st L, 2nd W.

2011

Mark Bickley (Neil Craig, Adel)

3W, 6L. 1st W, 2nd W.

Todd Viney (Dean Bailey, Melb)

1W, 4L. 1st L, 2nd L.

Paul Williams (Rodney Eade, WB

2W, 1L. 1st W, 2nd L.

2012

Garry Hocking (Matthew Primus, PA)

1D, 3L. 1st L, 2nd L.

2013

Neil Craig (Mark Neeld, Melb)

1W, 10L. 1st L, 2nd W.

Mark Harvey (Michael Voss, Bris)

2W, 1L. 1st game win, 2nd game win.

2015

John Barker (Mick Malthouse, Carl)

3W, 11L. 1st L; 2nd L.

Matthew Egan (James Hird, Ess)

1W, 2L. 1st L, 2nd L.

2017

Dean Solomon (Rodney Eade, GC)

3L. 1st L, 2nd L.

2019

Rhyce Shaw (Brad Scott, NM)

4W, 3L. 1st W; 2nd W.

David Teague (Brendan Bolton, Carl)

4W, 2L. 1st W, 2nd L.

Brett Ratten (Alan Richardson, StK)

1W. 1st W.