COLLINGWOOD coach Mick Malthouse has joined the growing chorus of those opposed to the AFL’s priority pick, saying clubs should be able to work their way back up the ladder through sheer hard work.

Malthouse said he was “totally against” the priority pick system that rewarded teams who hadn’t won enough matches during a season with an extra selection either before or following the first round of the national draft.

Malthouse said he had coached teams near the bottom of the ladder and managed to lift them to a position of challenging for a premiership.

“I coached Footscray. In our second year we played in the finals [and] we hadn’t been in the finals for a couple of years,” Malthouse said on Thursday.

“West Coast we were 12th of 14. We played off in a grand final two years later.

“Collingwood we were 16th of 16. Two years later or three years later, we played off in a grand final. It is achievable if you work hard.”

The Magpies coach said he hadn’t heard Melbourne coach Dean Bailey asking for a “handout” despite his team being 15th on the ladder and again in line for a priority pick at the end of this year.

“He’s got the right attitude and that’s got to be the attitude … let those that finish last work their way up the ladder,” Malthouse said.