Thanks for the phone call, Mick: Carlton let management do the sacking

If it was me I would want to know as soon as possible and it wouldn't matter who told me or how, so long as I knew. Maybe that's just me who knows. If they'd waited till he returned he may have missed out on getting picked up by WC or it may have leaked to the media which are both worse outcomes than getting a phone call in Bali don't you think. Common sense would tell you that the clubs first priority would be to inform the player and/or his management as soon as they knew they longer required his services.They would then decide if the player was in a stable mental state to be able to receive that news remotely. He was with his family at the time and they probably decided that he could handle receiving the phone call. Seriously, it's just a storm in a tea-cup.

I'm not convinced it is good 'people management' to tell people they lack good 'people management' skills.

I fully realise he was in Bali. I believe they should have waited until he returned to sack him. If you read my comments you will see the whole tenet is about good management decisions. Handling staff, especially in situations where you make them redundant, is a very delicate operation. The recommendations from Fair Work stipulate a face to face meeting to terminate any employee. Either orchestrated by the manager or Human Resources. Jax, this is not the first time Mick has terminated players without even meeting with them. He allowed management to do the job on many occasions at West Coast. I believe this matter to have been handled very badly and if you disagree then you don't know anything about good people management.

Lucas was in Bali and Mick isn't scared to give a player that news. He's delievered plenty of bad news to players over his career.

I think you're been a wee bit sensitive on this one. Different coaches have different styles. Some are more personable than others, some are more distant, so what? We all have personal opinions about what we think is the best style but it's pretty irrelevant. Did Mick interview him before he was drafted to Carlton? Does a coach normally interview players for their 'job' before hiring them? It's a no to both of those questions so why does he have to be the one to sack him or do an exit interview? I agree that in a perfect world it would be better and nicer to hear the news from the coach firsthand but it's not a perfect world and that's what he has support staff for. Hopefully it will toughen Kane up a bit and steel his resolve to prove them wrong. I certainly don't do all of the job interviews, hiring and firing at work but I do get to know all my staff. You guys are making a mountain out of a molehill IMO. Lucas didn't take a backhanded dig at Mick either. He answered a question from a journo honestly and of course it gets spun into him taking a swipe (face palm). Watch the full interview on the WC website and see for yourself. I hope he does well at WC. He certainly has the talent.

Exactly, re Squad size and Australian culture. Mick thinks he's Sir Alex Ferguson but he's just a grumpy old man slowing eroding his own legacy

Take a breath Anthony, Lucas was in Bali.

I don't know about everyone else but I would prefer to be sacked face to face not over the phone. McKay called him and sacked him on the phone. What a cowardly act. If you can't look a person in the eye and say 'you don't figure in our long term plans' then you shouldn't be in a position of responsibility. That is the key word here, responsibility. Nobody is taking responsibility for the de-listing. Mick, who is the boss, pathetically gives the job to McKay who then calls the player because he doesn't have the guts to face him over the table. A bit like your nearest and dearest texting or phoning you and saying 'We're breaking up'. I feel the best way to do these things is to sit across the table and give the player the bad news. At the same time he might like feedback as to why the decision was made and only Mick as Head Coach can give that. He might also like to know, if there are problems with his game, how he can improve. You might as an employer make some counselling available for players who take it very badly. We are dealing with highly strung young men here who spend their lives trying to live up to everyone's expectations. They are trying to live the AFL dream and to have that dream shattered can be devastating for them. I think both these men and the Carlton football Club reneged on their responsibility to the player. In actual fact there are guidelines from Fair Work Australia for this situation and none of what was done to Lucas, even comes close to fulfilling them.

Couldn't agree more Don I also thought he probably got too close to some of the Eagles players when they won their two flags in the nineties and it's never been quite the same since for him

The difference is that we are Australian and it is an Australian game. We see every person as an equal human being just doing whatever job we have...but with no one more important than another. Malthouse is trying to create a persona as the Great Mentor whose experience will have him hallowed in history beyond Jock McHale. He has forgotten all about what it means to be in a football club, developing young men. His public grumpiness suggests it is not working very well and his failures look like outnumbering his successes. Basically, Australia takes a set against this kind of person.

I think the Eagles have done well to pick this guy up, 23 years of age? His best years are ahead of him, and his body is probably only now prepared for the week in week out rigors of AFL footy, Ive believed for a long time that guys are drafted too young these days. Looking forward to seeing how he goes in Eagles colours, the guy they picked up from the Saints turned out to be pretty good, hope this guy goes as well ;-)

I agree Don but most of the top line coaches have had training in either the USA or Europe and that's how it's done there but the difference there is the size of the playing squads are so much bigger it's impossible for the head coach to have any sense of emotion for the players

So he doesn't expect a call from Steve Kernahan...but the bloke calling the shots on his day to day work is Malthouse. He is the one you'd expect a face to face conversation with. I'd say it is consistent with Malthouse's interpersonal style. He has favourites and drops others like a spurned lover. He will never talk to them again once he goes off them.

These guys play AFL for a living its a job just like the job I had at an IGA supermarket When they were in the process of downsizing the staff and making some redundant all the dirty work was done by the store manager and we didn't hear a thing from the boss it's obvious Malthouse is doing the same thing and trying to distance himself emotionally from the players . While it might seem cold it's probably the right approach that's why he has an assistant

I think he is a very classy player who will do well in a good system. Mick has quenched so many careers with his silly mind and power games. Kane should enjoy the freedom and joy of football again. Time to fly, young fella...even though Fremantle is coursing through your blood. There are so many East Freo players in West Coast's history that you will feel at home. I'm tipping you'll be the first rookie to be upgraded. If you don't get a chance, you'll play state footy and win the Sandover Medal.