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Football clubs have to make tough decisions all the time. Not drafting this player or that player for whatever reason. Making this trade and not that one. Or, telling a club stalwart their time is up.
It’s not easy, but, at the end of the day, while sentiment plays a major role in sport, professional sport is a business, and each team’s shareholders (such as the members, fans and sponsors) need to be looked after to ensure the best possible return for their investment.
Now, let’s face it, whoever has to make the decision and tell an icon of the game, a legend, a hall of famer, that his time is up, won’t find it easy. But perhaps it’s like a Band-Aid, and it’s better to rip it now than to try and leave it lingering.
And that’s what faces Carlton right now – Mick Malthouse.
A coaching legend, an ornament of the game, who in a couple of weeks’ time will pass Jock McHale to climb to the top of the list of games coached in the VFL/AFL. But is he the right man for the job at Carlton?
A disappointing loss in a winnable game against the Tigers in Round 1, then a thrashing at the hands of West Coast last Friday night, all on the back of two less than successful previous seasons, and you have to start enquiring about the coach’s future, despite claims at the start of the year that Carlton were looking at an extension when Mick’s contract runs out at the year’s end.
I know we will hear all the excuses about Carlton’s cattle, and injuries, and so on and so forth, but Carlton under Mick just haven’t worked since he got the job following Brett Ratten’s departure at the end of 2012.
Blues fans, and I’d imagine the Carlton hierarchy, saw Mick as the Messiah but it certainly hasn’t worked out that way. Now it’s a case of how long do you persist?
I wouldn’t question Mick Malthouse’s credentials, but maybe it’s time for some new thinking, some new ways of coaching, some new ideas and tactics, and some fresh blood. It’s worked wonders this year at the Western Bulldogs with Luke Beveridge and also in Adelaide with Phil Walsh.
It’s still the same game, whoever kicks the biggest score wins, but there are so many different new ways to get that biggest score, and perhaps Carlton needs to look at someone else to show them some of those new ways.
But who does the dirty work? Perhaps Carlton can contact Essendon? They made the hard call several years ago to tell Kevin Sheedy it was time the club headed in a different direction.
It’s all well and good to say let him finish his contract, but is that really fair on everyone?
Carlton next meet Essendon and St Kilda, and judging by the weekend results it’s hard to pencil in either of those as wins. Then the Blues meet old foe Collingwood in Mick’s milestone record-breaking game.
They could very easily be 0-5 at full-time in that match. It could make a warm and fuzzy celebration feel a little cold and coarse for Blues fans.
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