Malthouse credits 'natural reaction' for Blues' form

Jack I wouldnt go as far as saying the list is pretty stronger but it is stronger than a lot believe. Jaksch is a good case in point - the kid clearly has talent but is only 85kg and just 20 years old over the next year or 2 as he bulks up he will become a very handy key defender. Another one is Cam Giles he looked very good last year before the foot injury and has returned to the training track this week, Throw in Fields who looked promising as a third tall forced to play as a second tall last week and suddenly you have a good group of young tall defenders. In the middled Cripps, Graham & Bell look good enough to build around and have already given Murphy a lot more freedom - we see Walsh get a run this week and Holman has held his own as he finds his feet. And up forward Casboult looks like he could become a 40-50 goal key forward. If we build on that with some good draft picks this year then things can turn around pretty quick.

The blues are using the rest of the year well pumping games into the right guys. Jarsk could use a few more, call me dilussional but I think our lost is pretty Strong still. any other team with the amount of injuries we had this year would struggle. Good flip side for us is some kids get games and we get a high draft pick. On barker his game plan is clearly superior to malthouse on evidence provided

I am fairly sure Armfield did say that, Macca.

I am betting that blaming the players week in and week out didn't help. Saying things like 'they' rather than 'we' and Carlton doesn't have many good players would really smash the morale. To me, there seemed a real disconnect between Malthouse and the Club. On the plus side, I can now watch the Blues play again, I couldn't bring myself to watch Malthouse's disasters any more.

Malthouse started talking to the media pre-season about his tenure. If he wanted to avoid media speculation so early he should have kept his mouth shut and got on with the job of coaching. But it was almost as if he could see what was coming before the season had started. If the Blues had won a few more games and were competitive in losses he would have kept his job - simple as that. But they were woeful and when your side is losing that badly there is going to be criticism and conjecture - regardless of who you are and how long your contract is for. I think the way MM behaved in the last few weeks of his coaching where he was taking pot shots at just about everyone has damaged his reputation far more than his failure as the Blues coach.

Yeah Darren I agree not being in the fish bowl would yield positive results. On the last couple of weeks I think the effort has been there b ut opponents have done a bit more work and the blues haven't taken the chances they created (1st quarter against the Tiges and second quarter against the Dogs) and ball use has been poor. Also if you look at the weekend Bell & Cripps dropped off a bit (I think more work is being put into them) and Graham was missing - the performance of these blokes in the previous weeks had been a big part of our success but with their age and experience it is to be expected they have peaks and troughs - it will be interesting to see how they respond in coming weeks. On Yarran I think Docherty is available this week and Byrne played well in the 2's, Barker has every opportunity to make a statement. Also Yarran should not be at the blues next year he should be packaged up awith our second round draft pick to get a second top 10 pick.

I agree Macca. They have also said that having the pressure valve released and not having the media in their face every time they go to the club has helped, that supports what I said - the change itself has been a positive. Over tme it won't be as simple as a couple of messages, Barker will be tested in many ways if he is to be the coach for the long haul. He already as an example as the effort over the last 2 games has dropped off. It was left to too few. How he deals with Yarran will also be interesting as he basically played for Richmond last Friday. But as I said all indications so far are very positive.

Darren - Every Carlton player I have seen interviewed since Barker tok over talks of him simplifying things, just concentrating on a couple of messages - I think that has been the biggest cause of the spike.

Dan - I heard Zac Tuohy say that did Armfield say it as well?

Dennis Armfield didn't say John Barker was "The best coach he's had" for nothing. Malthouse is delusional if he thinks he didn't make a lot of mistakes.

I'd say Mick would be better to work out his personal journey post failure privately. He can't win putting this stuff out in the public domain it can only sound self-serving. Having said that in part he is right you do see a lift in performance when the uncertainty/public scrutiny is removed and Barker will need to be able to show the effort can be sustained over an extended period. So far he gives every indication he can.

Absolute highest respect to Mick- he coached Collingwood to a premiership, but maybe it's time for him to admit Barker is just simply doing a better job.

"Malthouse said the doubt surrounding his position affected players towards the end of his reign". He has got to be kidding himself. Doubts about his negative game plan would be more to the point. And I might add it was Malthouse whining to the press about the need to extend his tenure that blew up in his own face as the powers to be then took a closer look and decided they didn't like the look of the future with Malthouse at the helm. And I am not a Carlton supporter by the way.

Malthouse is right it was a natural reaction - when you take away a terrible game plan, stop playing 5 or 6 taggers and give quality young kids the opportunities they deserve it is only natural that the performance improves. Time for Malthouse to admit he got it wrong at the blues.

nothing against malthouse what he has done for footy is great but sounds like the ex coach still cant come to terms that he was no good at carlton and a bit of praise for john barker wouldnt hurt! Carlton under him have won 2/6 what was malthouse 1/13 figures speak for them self. its good to see carlton run out onto the field and play a different style of footy and be a contender