Mick Malthouse talks to his team at 1/4 time during the AFL Round 03 match between St Kilda Saints and the Collingwood Magpies at Etihad Stadium, Melbourne. Slattery Images
The AFL occupies the mantle of Australia’s biggest, richest and most powerful sporting competition. Within that, Collingwood is by far its biggest franchise.
They are rich beyond what even seems possible at almost every other club.
They have more sponsors than they know what to do with, more money and a membership of around 75,000. Staggering.
It stands to reason that they also have in their employ, the games best coach, Mick Malthouse. He is a three time premiership coach who many believe in only 13 weeks time will have a fourth flag to add to his incredible list of achievements.
That said, imagine this. Next year, in an 18 team competition, Mick Malthouse will not be coaching. That is, if the current deal struck between him, the club and Nathan Buckley two years ago remains in tact.
The hardest part of what is fast becoming a saga, is understanding what is driving this arrangement.
On SEN radio this week, Collingwood captain Nick Maxwell gave his thoughts when asked how the playing group viewed the situation:
“This is a deal that was done two years ago and it was done in the best interests of the Collingwood Football Club,” Maxwell said.
He was spot on. When Eddie McGuire and Gary Pert orchestrated this deal with Malthouse and Buckley it was certainly in everyone’s best interest – then.
But that doesn’t mean it is in everyones best interest now. None of them could predict that Malthouse would lead the Pies to a flag the following year and they certainly weren’t thinking that back to back flags were a legitimate possibility.
But whether Collingwood win a second flag under Malthouse this year is now irrelevant. The fact is he remains the best and most experienced coach in the business and in three months time, Nathan Buckley will say thank you very much, the job is mine.
It’s no secret that Eddie McGuire wants Buckley. He would lose too many nights sleep if he knew there was a possibility of Buck’s coaching elsewhere and simply will not let that happen.
It seems that McGuire has allowed his friendship and loyalty to Buckley to cloud his judgement as to what is actually best for the footy club.
The five year deals signed by Malthouse and Buckley remains in force with all parties towing the company line and admitting all are satisfied with the arrangement. Except Malthouse.
He has stated several times that unless his role for next season is not only clearly defined but in keeping with his standing in the game, he will exercise the option in his contract and move on.
This would not only be a shame but an embarrassment for Collingwood and McGuire.
Nathan Buckley has already said that under his watch, he foresees changes in tactics, strategies and game plan.
Considering this team is the reigning premier – possibly back to back – and the benchmark in every area of the game, perhaps it would have paid for Buck’s to keep that to himself for a while longer.
I’m sure Mick would have loved to hear that from his soon to be replacement.
As understandable as it is for McGuire to harbour fantasies about Buckley being in charge, he shouldn’t go through with what is now an inappropriate arrangement just because it was signed off by all parties nearly two season’s ago.
For a club like Collingwood, who leads the pack in every measurable aspect of the game, to allow a potentially four time premiership coach to walk out the door and coach somewhere else would be ludicrous.
It seems Collingwood have painted themselves into a corner. If the Pies win the flag, how on earth could you let Malthouse relinquish his role to Buckley or anyone else for that matter?
With seven coaches coming out of contract at the end of the year, you can bet your life there will be no shortage of offers for Malthouse. If he decides he’s not done as a senior coach, he will almost certainly be free to write his own cheque.
Already Buckley is uncomfortable having Malthouse around. Next year when in charge, it will be almost untenable.
It’s not too late Ed. I’m sure Bucks can wait another year – can you?
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