Mick always manages to come up with the unexpected and I certainly wasn't expecting him to announce his love of Daisy
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"'Daisy' is a wonderful kid, I really enjoy his company. He is one of those kids, I have two sons and two daughters, so I am not about to say I love him as a son - but I do love him as a son," Malthouse said.
"He is just a beauty. He brings so much to a football club. I try hard to not be biased and not show it but, at the end of the day, the more you avoid it the more it becomes obvious.
"I treat every player the way I see them. I know very well the chemistry mixes with some people. Some just went to get on and be professional footballers and just move on, it doesn't matter who coaches them. Others are concerned about who coaches them, others like that personal touch.
"I get on very well with Daisy - I am here to admit it and he is going to be a great bonus for our club."
His comments about the leadership group are interesting:
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Speaking on FIVEaa radio, Malthouse has urged team leaders Marc Murphy, Michael Jamison, Kade Simpson and Andrew Carrazzo to continue their development, urging them to not worry about being "loved" by their teammates.
The eight-man leadership group also includes Bryce Gibbs, Lachie Henderson, Brock McLean and Andrew Walker.
"What we need, I am the first to say it, is we want players to stand up. We have a young, fresh group of leaders led by Marc Murphy," he said.
"I reckon Marc Murphy, Simpson, Carrazzo and Jamison, they are captain, vice-captains and deputy vice captains, they are all strong characters, they will lead and will get better, particularly Marc Murphy who is only a young man."
Malthouse had felt former skipper Chris Judd had been "overburdened" in the role but, with a more confident Murphy moving into his second year in the job, he has noticed a greater contribution from the leadership group.
Interesting article about Matty Kreuzer in today's Age:
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Kreuzer expects his time either at full forward or at centre half-forward will ramp up this season, having spent the summer discussing and working with rucking partner Robbie Warnock on the best way they can take charge at the centre bounce, at stoppages and as marking threats inside attacking 50.
Kreuzer was ranked elite by Champion Data for score assists as a ruckman last season but contributed only eight goals. He had a shot-at-goal accuracy of 31 per cent - below average for an AFL ruckman.
''With the new interchange rule, it's going to mean bigger blokes are out there longer. It's going to be fun running around as a forward,'' he said.
''I played a little bit more there last year. I enjoyed it. (I will) just keep developing and hopefully kick a few more goals. I played there a little bit as a junior … it's fun down there.''
Jon Pierik's article in today's Age contains some interesting analysis and comments:
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At Carlton, hopes of kicking a big score would again appear to lay with veteran forward Jarrad Waite. He was considered above average last season, despite managing only 14 games, but has been tipped by Champion Data to slip this season. So important was Waite that he contributed to 23 per cent of scores – ranked second at the club behind Chris Judd – despite being moved into defence against Richmond and Essendon late in the campaign. Waite returned to the forward line for the finals.
Lachie Henderson endured a strong year at either end of the ground and was the only player in the league to defend 50 one-on-one contests and be an attacking target on 50 occasions.
Carlton director of coaching Robert Wiley said coach Mick Malthouse would adopt a “horses for courses” approach with the pair.
“He [Henderson] proved last year that he is the modern-day swingman and he can play at both ends, and very successfully,” Wiley said. “I think it's horses for courses. Mick really coaches that way. He likes to see the opposition and where they are vulnerable.
“Jarrad Waite kicked seven goals in the one game [against Essendon], a couple of weeks later he was playing down back. The most important thing is they know their roles, they can play at both ends.”
However, I think Champion Data's methodology is seriously flawed in that relying on a statistical analysis fails to take into account the intangible factors that win games and make players champions. For example, while I'm happy to accept that Roughead and Franklin were elite forwards in 2013, including Rioli and Gunston seems to be a stretch. Meanwhile, Cloke is considered to be above average because his goal kicking was inaccurate.
I can't believe that folk are preferring Kennedy over Kreuzer
Kennedy has had ample time to mature and he's a reasonable CHF. Kreuzer was thrown in at the deep end and he's shown that he can match it with the best . . . and his best is ahead of him.
Everyone is entitled to their opinion but, in my opinion, anyone who thinks the Judd deal wasn't good for Carlton has rocks in their head. The benefits of having the ultimate professional footballer at our club will continue long after he retires.
As for winning a flag, Malthouse was employed to do just that so, if we don't win one this season, it will be 2015.
Yes, we may be missing a KPP or two on last season's form but, if the stars align, we could have several in form KPPs vying for a spot in the 22.
As others have pointed out, the Swans weren't even contenders in 2005.
Would you say the same thing if we had Dangerfield, Scott Thompson and Josh Kennedy all now at their peak or a great player in potentially his last season and Armfield. I know what I would choose. It comes down to your recruiters having more hits than misses. These deals are a thing of the past.
Yes, I agree that free agency means that it is unlikely that teams will get involved in trading for elite players.
Matthew Kreuzer enjoys an injury free season, kicks 30 goals, makes the all Australian team, gets 18 Brownlow votes and comes fifth in the John Nicholls Medal.
Everyone is entitled to their opinion but, in my opinion, anyone who thinks the Judd deal wasn't good for Carlton has rocks in their head. The benefits of having the ultimate professional footballer at our club will continue long after he retires.
As for winning a flag, Malthouse was employed to do just that so, if we don't win one this season, it will be 2015.
Yes, we may be missing a KPP or two on last season's form but, if the stars align, we could have several in form KPPs vying for a spot in the 22.
As others have pointed out, the Swans weren't even contenders in 2005.
Our best 22 will be drawn from the best performed players who are fit and most able to defeat and/or negate the opposition. That should change from week to week and our best 22 for round one may not be our best 22 in other rounds.
Depending on how we go for injuries, our best 22 will always include Murphy, Judd, Simpson, Gibbs, Henderson, Walker, Kreuzer, Jamison, Thomas and Waite. Curnow, Garlett, Yarran, Carrazzo, Warnock, Tuohy and Armfield will be in our best 22 more often than not. Five to ten positions are up for grabs.
I have no problem with people standing up for what they believe in, as long as they are prepared to pay the price for their actions. However Hinch needs to find some other way of making his point rather than jeopardising the trial and or sentencing of someone before the courts. What will Hinch say when someone he names escapes penalty due to the actions of Hinch prejudicing the hearing? Or when the victims of one of these crimes loses their right to anonymity due to his actions? We have these laws for a reason.
Exactly!
Hinch is a grub with an ego and he's more concerned about his own reputation than any sense of justice. I'd love to see the prick rot in gaol.
There are so, so many more people in society I'd like to see locked away for life than Derryn Hinch. No doubt you'd agree with me.
I'd like to see them all sharing a cell with the Human Headline
Setanta could play regardless, the injuries ruined his career.
My opinion, Ratten was largely to blame, never let the guy settle anywhere, Could have filled any of the KPP spots (any of four )
In fact, he simply wasn't good enough. At the time, he was one of our best forward options but that was because we were crap. His failure to make any impression at GWS confirmed how bad we were.
I have no problem with people standing up for what they believe in, as long as they are prepared to pay the price for their actions. However Hinch needs to find some other way of making his point rather than jeopardising the trial and or sentencing of someone before the courts. What will Hinch say when someone he names escapes penalty due to the actions of Hinch prejudicing the hearing? Or when the victims of one of these crimes loses their right to anonymity due to his actions? We have these laws for a reason.
Exactly!
Hinch is a grub with an ego and he's more concerned about his own reputation than any sense of justice. I'd love to see the prick rot in gaol.
Yarran needs to play across half back, Menzel to take Eddie's spot.
Menzel has to earn Eddie's spot!
I watched the interview with Mick yesterday and I was most interested in his brief discussion of draft picks. To paraphrase, he compared Menzel, as a high draft pick, with Cachia and pointed out that Cachia played more games than Menzel. He also said that this lot of draft picks were ready to play AFL and expected a couple to force their way into the side.
Menzel needs to learn how to keep his feet or he'll be bypassed.
Betts has one clear advantage over Garlett and Yarran and that is his marking ability. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that Betts is one of the best marks for a small forward.
However, Garlett and Yarran are more complete footballers than Eddie and can make a contribution up the ground and in defence whereas Eddie is a forward first and foremost.
Like many others, I was sad to see Eddie leave but we've got his position covered and then some.
I see myself as an Australian first and foremost, what really hurts me is to see people most of whom are probably 2nd, 3rd or 4th generation Australian's associate themselves with another country and culture first ahead of their country!
I struggle to understand why people do that LP, particularly those who 'return home' to fight in civil wars or ethnic conflicts.
I don't think it has much to do with whether the game is boring or not, even though soccer prima donnas bore me. I think there is an ethnic element in these soccer mobs. If you look closely at these idiots they are mainly of middle Eastern and Southern European background. These 'people' as part of ethnic minorities tend to gang-up as a means of empowering themselves. Before you call me racist, I am of Southern European heritage, so I should know.
You're probably right Jofo. I find soccer boring but I imagine it's anything but to people who grew up with and love the game. As many people will remember, all of the Melbourne soccer clubs had an ethnic affiliation back in the 1960s and 70s and crowd violence was the norm. However, I think it was more about settling old scores than empowerment. Now that Melbourne has two teams in a so-called national competition, I imagine that ethnic affiliations aren't important and your empowering theory is more relevant.
