Mick Malthouse’s position description as Director of Coaching appears finalised. However, from the summary details provided by The Collingwood Football Club, it’s hard to see how Malthouse will hold a meaningful role at the club.
Reported by Jon Pierik in the Sydney Morning Herald, Malthouse “will be able to provide advice through the week to Nathan Buckley, if the new coach wants it, while helping Buckley’s assistants.”
Having now categorically ruled out working at a rival club next year, it has emerged that Malthouse will hold the Director of Coaching role for one year minimum. Although contracted to the position for three years, President Eddie McGuire has ruled out legal action against Malthouse in the event of a contract breach – a sign of goodwill loyalty.
With the description of his position provided by the club, it all but appears Malthouse will hold an office position waiting for people to knock on his door. Whilst there is obviously more to do with the role, Malthouse has also declared he will not have a match day presence nor affect team selection. That is unless Nathan Buckley asks for advice.
What has not been made clear is the proactive interaction Malthouse will have with Buckley’s assistants who report to Buckley. A proactive approach from Malthouse with the assistants will surely increase tension with Buckley.
Burdened with the thought of assistants asking Malthouse for advice before himself, Buckley will still be faced with Malthouse in the coaching box upon game day suggestions from his assistants.
Financially speaking, there is no chance Malthouse would have agreed to the five year deal if the final three saw a major decrease in his salary. This leads me to believe he will be earning in excess of $500,000 (probably a lot more) to hold a position with little responsibility.
Already with media commitments while a senior coach, Malthouse will surely be offered further work on radio and television which are unlikely to bite into his office time. Of course, anything he says about Collingwood in the media will surely be scrutinised heavily and work its way back to Buckley.
What he must not forget is that comments he makes regarding Collingwood through the media will be considered unwanted advice. It will be near impossible for Malthouse to hold a media position without discussing Collingwood.
Declaring on The Footy Show, “I don’t want to be at a football club that I’m going to be paid well at to do a job that is insignificant and doesn’t help the club go forward” Malthouse could very well drag the club backwards indirectly if tension arises.
We have all heard about the running tap of passion Malthouse cannot turn off. It’s hard to imagine Malthouse will be passionately engaging the football world without attending training, actively providing advice or pitching his two cents about selection.
One thing that is for sure is that the Collingwood Football Club is dedicated to Nathan Buckley being the long term coach of the future. If Buckley eventually reaches breaking point and requests Malthouse be moved on, it would be in all parties’ interests to oblige.
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