“The biggest challenge for our playing group is having the awareness. There is going to be pats on the back, there is going to be positive press.
“Our advice will be that they ignore the 'pats on the back' and just focus in on the national news and the business review as opposed to any sporting media,” Malthouse wrote in Mick’s Message a weekly email sent out to Collingwood members.
Malthouse will take some confidence heading into the St Kilda game with the Magpies beating the Saints in their last two encounters this season.
“We are going to go into this game knowing that St Kilda is a better side than how they played on the weekend. But we also know that we can’t afford to lower our guard. There is no percentage in this; there is no position on the ladder.
“I respect their coach. I think he has done a wonderful job in the couple of years he has been at the helm. We will go through the side and work out what they (have) got because they have some true champions. We are going to need to be at our best to win this game.
“Win and you go forward, lose and you are out.”
