Melbourne powerbrokers need to ring three-time premiership coach Mick Malthouse’s management to start planting the seed for the departing Magpie mentor to coach the Demons in 2012.
Saturday’s 186-point demolition at the hands of Geelong has hammered the final nail into Dean Bailey’s coaching coffin.
Former Melbourne forward and media commentator David Schwarz said Melbourne need an experienced coach and has too often relied on first-time coaches.
If going down the experienced coach path is the want of the Melbourne board, Malthouse appears as the only logical choice.
Apart from the fact he is the reigning premiership coach and looks very likely to win another this year, there are no other experienced coaches to take the Demons forward.
Paul Roos has ruled out coaching. They would be better served to stick with Bailey than appoint Neil Craig, Rodney Eade appears likely to stay at the kennel.
Mark Williams? Probably not interested as one feels he has an agreement with Greater Western Sydney to take over from Kevin Sheedy.
Alistair Clarkson? Staying. Leigh Matthews? Unlikely.
Malthouse is the man and Melbourne must act fast and move heaven and earth to get him.
The Melbourne squad has done its rebuilding and filled its boots at the draft table. It has spent its time at the bottom and now is ready to rise. The young list has all the elements of a side ready to succeed.
The spine is strong with James Frawley, Jared Rivers and Liam Jurrah along with ruckmen Mark Jamar and Stefan Martin.
The midfield is a cracker. Brent Moloney, Tom Scully, Nathan Jones and Jack Trengrove have shown they can mix it with the best and are developing a good understanding.
The forward structure needs some work. Another mature key forward would be ideal to take the pressure of Jurrah, Jack Watts and Colin Sylvia.
This group would surely look attractive to Malthouse.
He does not have ten years of coaching in him, probably five maximum. He would want a list built for success and on the cusp, that is Melbourne.
The Demons could easily play finals next season under the right leadership and win a flag within five years. This job screams Malthouse.
He has said he will not be coaching next season but that was before Saturday and before Bailey’s future was all but sealed. Wait for the rumour mill on this one, it will be the talking point right through till that first Saturday in October.
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