Veteran onballer Brock McLean has blasted Carlton over the lead-up to his AFL delisting.
Earlier this week, the Blues announced they had delisted McLean, Mitch Robinson and Kane Lucas.
McLean said meetings with key club officials, including coach Mick Malthouse, around the end of the season had left him confident of another year with the Blues.
But his manager Adam Ramanauskas texted with bad news while McLean was on holidays in Copenhagen, saying the Blues were unlikely to offer a new deal.
Carlton football director Andrew McKay then rang McLean to confirm his time at the club was over and the conversation did not go well.
“I’m certainly not angry or bitter or anything like that, but I was just disappointed how it was all handled,” McLean told SEN radio on Friday.
“How I was sort of told one thing and led to believe one thing and Adam Ramanauskas, my manager, was told another thing, so there was no real transparency or honesty amongst the whole conversation or the whole situation.”
McLean is also nonplussed that he has not heard from Malthouse.
“I don’t know the reason why Mick hasn’t rang me, but I would have thought, as the senior coach, he might have got on the phone to me,” he said.
When McLean went on his overseas trip, he was sure the Blues would give him another year in the AFL.
McLean said McKay told him he was squeezed out by their busy recruiting during the trade period.
The 28-year-old played 63 games for Carlton after 94 with Melbourne.
“He (Malthouse) was of the view that he wanted me around next year and that I was a required player,” McLean said of their meeting near season’s end.
“So I walked away from that thinking, ‘Yep, great, I want to play on next year and it sounds like Mick wants me here, so that’s good’.
“And then my exit meeting at the end of the year probably went even better.
“So I walked away with the view that I was going to be around next year and there would be a contract available on the table sooner rather than later.”
lyn
Guest
My prediction for the Blues in 2015 is SOS will come back to be an assistant coach, Malthouse's contract won't be renewed for 2016. The coach for 2016 will be the SOS man
Macca
Guest
I can see how Brock's situation changed, they were planning to keep him then they got Whiley with the Jaksch deal and don't need Bell, Cripps, Whiley and McLean as inside midfielders and McLean has the least upside so he goes. However this was clearly not communicated to Mclean. Malthouse not talking to McLean directly is very disappointing. Whatever people think of McLean as a player, he has always been (at least from what I can see) very honest, hard working and willing to do the team thing - a simple phone call to repay those qualities isn't too much to ask.
Macca
Guest
I can see how Brock's situation changed, they were planning to keep him then they got Whiley with the Jaksch deal and don't need Bell, Cripps, Whiley and McLean as inside midfielders and McLean has the least upside so he goes. However this was clearly not communicated to Mclean. Malthouse not talking to McLean directly is very disappointing. Whatever people think of McLean as a player, he has always been (at least from what I can see) very honest, hard working and willing to do the team thing - a simple phone call to repay those qualities isn't too much to ask.
Fred
Guest
I actually reckon blues have done ok in trade period jones is a good get as the young guys are. Think they should of kept lucas and Robinson for depth. agree comments re malthouse u can't have it both ways... Waite did the wrong thing? Ironic
AR
Guest
That's not the point he was making. He was disappointed that Malthouse (particularly in light of his recent comments about Waite and decency) had told him he was required, and when he wasn't, didn't personally call him to let him know. One the one hand I think "that's modern football", on the other, I think he has a valid point.
Jack
Guest
No loyalty in football is there Brock?
Axle an the Guru
Guest
McLean has not been that effective at Carlton,I think he has underachieved in his career at Carlton so I don't blame them for delisting him and I would say he may struggle to find a club that will want him.