Mick Malthouse accuses Robert Walls of letting 'petty things' influence his opinion

MICK Malthouse has questioned why Carlton identity Robert Walls has been so quick to dismiss his possible return to coaching.

MICK Malthouse has questioned why Carlton identity and commentator Robert Walls has been so quick to dismiss his possible return to coaching.

And Malthouse, who is the frontrunner to replace the axed Brett Ratten at the Blues next season, said his wife burst into tears over reports he has put his hand up for the job.

Walls wrote in a Melbourne newspaper today that the Blues would be taking a “big risk” by hiring the triple premiership coach.

But Malthouse this morning hit back, suggesting Walls was still bitter over losing out on the West Coast coaching position more than 20 years ago.

“I sometimes wonder where Robert is coming from. He seems to be very selective in his figures and he seems to be very selective about my coaching,” Malthouse told Melbourne radio station 3AW.

“This might be a long bow and I hate to draw this, but there were three people in mind for the West Coast job…Wayne Schimmelbusch, Robert Walls and myself.

“I did work at SEN last year and now I work at 3AW, and Robert reversed.

“I hope these petty things don’t influence his thought process.

“I’ve had a reasonable relationship with Robert, particularly of recent date. We both share one common interest – the love of our grandchildren – and we’ve regularly discussed, albeit this year I haven’t seen him a lot.”

Malthouse undecided on coaching future

Malthouse is the yet to officially confirm his intentions for next season and beyond, with the 59-year-old’s family almost certain to have the final say on a return to the coaching caper for the ex-Footscray, West Coast and Collingwood mentor.

But Nanette Malthouse’s reaction to the news of Ratten’s imminent sacking yesterday coupled with speculation her husband would take the reins at Carlton could be telling on Malthouse’s final decision.

“I came back from WA yesterday and my wife was in tears and very distraught,” he said.

“She said, ‘Why do they have to be so nasty and so personal about you when you’ve had nothing to do with anything? You haven’t even said you want to coach’.

“When I see that I get angry, I get very disappointed and you wonder why I haven’t made up my mind. It’s not hard to work out why.

“Do I really want to get back into that field when it’s so oppressive at times on the innocent?

“She’s an innocent victim and I dare say if I went into two other households, they would be in the same position and that’s those of my two daughters.”

Malthouse is due to attend a function in Melbourne for the Variety Club charity this afternoon and expects to be questioned about his coaching future by the media while there.

“I am still as much up in the air about returning to the coaching field,” Malthouse said.

“People can say that’s rubbish, but I’m telling you…you don’t coach 9-5. It’s all absorbing and these are the things I’ve got to look at and discuss with my family.

“I’ve made it very clear to my management don’t include me in things until I’ve concluded my jobs that I’ve got. Things can then be looked at in the cool light of dawn.”