Malthouse swipes at AFL draw
Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse has marked his 800th match as player or coach with a swipe at fixturing
He said after the 25-point victory over the Sydney Swans at ANZ Stadium that the AFL draw was unrealistic.
“I said to the boys before the season started, we can’t have an even draw because it’s not practical with 16 teams and 22 games," Malthouse said.
“I said if we can make the top four with the draw we’ve got, and we’re a long way from it, we play the premiers twice, the runners-up twice, third-placed twice, the previous premier twice and regular Carlton, Melbourne games twice.
“We’re not there yet and we’re a long way from it, but each of those three sides play each other once.
“I was under the impression top sides should play each other twice and bottom sides play each other twice to have a more realistic draw.
“Not the case, but we don’t control it and we’ll take it.”
While Malthouse wasn’t happy about the draw, he wasn’t fazed by his team’s poor goalkicking.
“There were five rushed points and I think it was five last week, but it has something to do with the desperation of the opposition to rush it through,” he said.
“There weren’t too many set shots missed.”
While his team looked good, Malthouse also looked good for a man who has been in footy 39 years - and the Collingwood coach couldn’t be happier with his achievement.
“Most people are pensioned off or deposed. A lot can happen in 39 years and I’ve seen most of it,” he said.
“I feel as if I’m still coaching reasonably well, still get on well with the players, believe you need to make sure other sporting codes don’t do things that you haven’t considered and if they do, you have to consider it.
“And I enjoy it - 39 years is a long time but I still enjoy it.”