Expectation is the biggest coach-killer in the AFL. Carlton people dared to have finals thoughts in the lead-up to the season proper, but it became evident two rounds in there would be no September action for the Blues this year.
Rarely is Mick Malthouse out of the headlines when coaching, but once the status of his side was established, the pressure was immediately upon him in the last season of his three-year contract.
Many thought Carlton would be a bottom-four side in 2015, and anyone with a football brain had them as a bottom-six certainty. And while the general expectation on Malthouse and the Blues this year was not to figure in the finals, the uncompetitive nature of some of their losses, and the lack of run and fight in others, has led to the heat being turned up to searing.
There was also the broader expectation upon Malthouse’s arrival at Carlton, and what it signalled to a starving, impatient and soon-to-be angry supporter base.
This was supposed to be a team that was ready to contend. With his decades of experience and glittering CV, Malthouse would put the finishing touches on a premiership tilt.
As we now know, this was as poor a reading of the play as anything we’ll see on the field this weekend. Delusions never came so grand.
The suspicion also lingers that Malthouse was moved to coach Carlton for the wrong reasons. No doubt he still has a passion to coach, but was it the sole driving factor in his decision, or was it proving something to those at Collingwood who he felt had let him down?
Recruiting Dale Thomas from the Pies to the Blues also smacked of something other than pure motives.
This was a move that could have been understandable if they had both joined the new club together, in the quest to deliver a flag to a side believed to be moving into contention. It would be OK to make an error of judgement moving from the outside in, based on external observation and a club board whispering sweet nothings while looking through rose-coloured glasses.
But for Malthouse, after a year at the helm of a mediocre football side, to bring in a mature player of Thomas’ standing in the game, at a hefty cost both in dollar value and contract length, sent a message of impending success to both Carlton supporters and the AFL world.
Thomas was never quite as good as some would have you believe in his halcyon days of 2010-11, but he certainly hasn’t come close to those heights as a Carlton player. Injuries can be no excuse given he was coming off a five-game season in 2013. Caveat emptor.
Collingwood was more snake than ladder at the end of 2013, being bundled out of the finals in the first week. Did Malthouse recruit Thomas as a way of giving the Pies a clip on the way down, simultaneously hastening the process? It’s hard not to think it played a role.
As is now clear to all, the Carlton playing list is nowhere near contention.
We’ve all heard of Jack Dyer’s “good ordinary footballers”, but the Blues don’t even have those. More like ordinary ordinary footballers. If players can get suspended for bringing the game into disrepute, Levi Casboult and Liam Jones should serve time for crimes against kicking.
As for the playing leadership at Carlton, that’s an oxymoron if ever there was one.
Chris Judd has given every fibre of his being on the field for the Blues. No-one could question that. But let’s face it, this is Judd’s eighth year at the club, five of them spent as captain. If there are any culture problems, including that of uncompetitiveness, then they have evolved on his watch. The similarities to fellow superstar Gary Ablett at Gold Coast aren’t too hard to find.
The freedom has gone from Marc Murphy’s game since he took over as skipper; too heavy lies the crown. Bryce Gibbs finally matured into the complete footballer last season, but once was apparently enough; he hasn’t been seen since.
Malthouse has had multiple failings at the Blues. And not all that is wrong there is his fault. But twice now he has failed to recognise where his playing list was at. He couldn’t let his Collingwood bygones be bygones. Appointing Marc Murphy as captain was a mistake.
But there is something worse that all of these things.
Malthouse’s reputation as a master coach has not just been built on his three premiership from seven grand finals, and umpteen finals series reached.
Mick has always been the players’ coach. They have loved and adored him, not just feared and respected him. When he’s had a limited team under his command, if nothing else, they’ve given 100 per cent effort, 100 per cent of the time.
He has taken teams to greater heights than they themselves could have imagined. Because they trusted his vision. Because they bought into what he wanted. Because they believed.
We can only judge the Carlton players on what we see on the weekend. Not only that, but we can judge it against 30 years of Mick Malthouse-led sides.
There is no trust. There is no buy-in. There is no belief.
And because of that, more than anything else, as of next year at Carlton, there will be no Malthouse.
The Original Buzz
Guest
I think you nailed it Abigail. "Mick has stated that he intends to play for wins, even though the board has stated that we are rebuilding." Obviously the coach and the Board are headed in different directions. I will give it until round ten for them to part ways.
The Original Buzz
Guest
I think the Tigers need to turn the spotlight inwards and have a serious look at the Coach as well. I think they have some players that have grand final potential.
The Original Buzz
Guest
I agree wit Cam and Macca, MM needs to go and it needs to be now. Carlton are now bottom and will stay there until MM is gone. Then the rebuilding can begin in earnest.
The Original Buzz
Guest
I disagree Winston. The game plan is not sound, the results prove that.
TD
Guest
Didn't seem to bother him how John Todd's or how Tony Shaw's families might have felt either
Macca
Guest
Gecko - I agree there are other issues but I was at the game on Sunday and even with the Blues missing the likes of Henderson, Jamison, Simpson, Yarran & Menzel they still had the better side on paper - however the game plan was terrible and incredibly slow and stagnate - a better coach would have won that game.
EddyJ
Guest
Agree. Carlton seems to be a mess, but not being at the club, I can only assess from what I can see from the outside, and compare to situations that have happened in the past. Changing coaches might be a short-term solution, but Carlton have has a history of impatience, to their own detriment. Whatever the case, things are not quite right at Carlton, and more than the coach needs to change.
Gecko
Guest
EddyJ it's fair for you and Macca to say Mick needs (needed) to adapt his game plan to his players. As long as you also acknowledge that there are many other problems (mainly related to player personnel and recruitment) that won't easily be fixed by changing coach.
EddyJ
Guest
Being 'flat' within the first six games of the season? That's terrible – it means that there's a great deal of pressure on the players. Either they've been forced into a plan they either don't believe it (the so-called 'buy in'), or they haven't got the skill to implement the plan that Malthouse wants. But, two and a half seasons in and it's got to this stage? The players aren't enjoying their football, and it shows. They're playing like they've got a six-pack of bricks on their shoulders, afraid to make mistakes, and incur the wrath of Mick. When Rodney Eade resigned from the Swans in mid-2002, it was a similar situation – players too frightened to be creative, harassed by Eade when making mistakes. Eade lost games, lost the players, and lost his job. After that point, stand-in coach Paul Roos told the players to relax, it's OK to make mistakes, enjoy their football. Won 6–4 for the rest of the 2002 season, finals for the next six years, and a premiership in 2005. Carlton in 2015 is not at the same skills level as the Swans circa 2002, but still, there's a lesson in this for Carlton.
Gecko
Guest
Cam you make a good point about Carlton's leadership group. If the Blues were looking for alternative captains to Murphy, there's really no-one besides Judd and recent years suggested Judd would only play around 50% of games. The entire leadership group seems flat. Carlton need not only to recruit for good footballers down back, up front and in the middle. They also need to recruit guys with leadership potential.
Jack
Guest
I guess at least we have some injuries and a coach that has no structure to blame .. Richmond have had next to no injuries and a coach that actually keep structure ....
Jack
Guest
The one thing I will say in micks defence is our list has been depleted. No Jamison Henderson daisy yarran Kruser Menzel.... Been a good chance for kids like armfield wood Rowe and ellard to get valuable game time As these lower tier 26+ year olds that mick pumps games into ahead of drafts players lead us to glory. Please resign mick for another 10!!!
Jack
Guest
I am anti mick but I don't agree with those saying rebuild trade half the team. The last thing we need to do is trade what talent we do have . Lots of kids are getting games this year. Warnock and judd will free up a lot of salary cap space next year regardless of weather they stay salaries will drop. My priority would be to sign Henderson and Kruezer long term as best football is still in front of them. I would get Sam Rowe out of back line and start developing Watson ASAP he kicked 4 goals in his last game. For me the best thing the blues can do is sack mick now so players can understand new game plan for next year. Micks game plan is diabolical other coaches are simply out coaxing him. Too predictable
EddyJ
Guest
Perhaps Malthouse and Carlton are not the right mix. St Kilda, Richmond, Footscray, West Coast, Collingwood seemed to be the right clubs for Malthouse at their respective times, but Carlton? Just doesn't seem right. It almost seems like he's a mercenary there. It's his third season at Carlton and they've really gone backwards during that time. At Footscray, in his third season (1985), they came third. At West Coast – instant success in 1990, and finals in each of his ten years as coach – premiership in 1992. At Collingwood, a grand final in the third season (2002). In all those cases, the teams were improving and building towards success, although at Footscray, it was only for one season. It's obvious that Malthouse can coach (and has coached 716 times) but at Carlton, something woeful has happened. Very poor recruiting (see Liam Jones on Sunday – an incredibly poor game), and the team just not gelling together. It could be a combination of factors – Mick moving on players he didn't like/want (Garlett, Betts), recruiting players he liked but didn't need (Dale Thomas), injuries, being out of the coaching game for a year in 2012, getting old – not just as far as his skill is concerned, but the generational gap between him and the players – the weight of expectation, that perhaps all Carlton had to do was appoint Mick Malthouse and things would be right. Don't forget that Carlton has chewed up some good coaches in recent times – Denis Pagan – good coach at North Melbourne, but all at sea during his time at Carlton. The salary cap sanctions also had an effect – perhaps they were punished too severely and the AFL has had a hand in destroying a club that is critical to the success of the AFL. Ever since David Parkin left in 2000, the place has fallen apart (OK, the made the finals in 2001 with Wayne Brittain). Carlton might be in for an overhaul of its entire club, not just its players – administration, facilities, leadership. It took Collingwood 11 seasons to land the premiership after Malthouse commenced in 2000. It might take Carlton the same amount of time – they just have to be patient. But will it be with Malthouse? More than likely, not.
Chancho
Roar Rookie
Didn't Mick also have some misgivings when Carlton approached him with the coaching job about the impact on his family - I seem to remember him talking at length about it and getting their buy-in etc. I guess this sort of ties in with what you say Cam - if there was that passion to take on the job, he might not have been so reticent or put the decision on them? Personally, I'm a huge fan of Mick's and all he's accomplished in the game, but there's something about this version of him that doesn't correlate to what he did at the Pies and the Eagles before that?
Macca
Guest
On the sub I hate it and it should be abandoned, Graham has been the sub enough but both he and Buckley need to play so if it's the only way to get them both in the team I could live with it. I have to see more of Jaksch at both ends but he probably should settle in defence for a start. Kreuzer will have at least another week in the 2s I expect.
Macca
Guest
Brett's - we were defending him but if you want to take offense go for your life
Bretto
Guest
Not sure how many times you blokes have been a premiership captain. I'll take a wild guess at zero. Nick Maxwell has. Enough said.
damo
Guest
This may be a bit left field, but the current woes are our bad karma for the way Ratten was dealt with.
Andrew
Guest
Also do you think Jakcsh is better suited in the forward line or down back Macca?