Collingwood’s poor AFL performance against Carlton has stirred up ill feeling between president Eddie McGuire and former coach Mick Malthouse.
McGuire was quoted on Sunday as saying the club’s game plan had become “middle class” under Malthouse, who finished as coach at the end of last season.
Nathan Buckley replaced Malthouse in a succession plan that McGuire engineered three years ago.
Malthouse was supposed to stay on as football director but he and the Magpies were unable to agree on the job specifications and he left.
On Sunday, Malthouse quickly replied to McGuire’s perceived slight that Collingwood had become too predictable before losing last year’s grand final to Geelong.
The Magpies had beaten St Kilda to win the 2010 premiership.
“I don’t remember the president being in the match committee,” Malthouse told 3AW.
“Everyone (might know) your game structure, but you know it better than most – therefore, that predictability is your asset.
“If that is the way it is deemed, that that game plan had run out of steam, then every committee man and every president is entitled to that assessment.”
Malthouse also said Collingwood had changed their game plan slightly under Buckley and it would take the team time to adjust.
“We’ll give them that bit of grace, that they have to adjust to a slightly different game style,” he told Channel Seven’s Game Day.
“Sometimes, it’s significant for certain players to play different roles.”
Malthouse added the retirement of Leigh Brown and the departure of Leon Davis had hurt the side, while All-Australian defender Harry O’Brien was clearly playing without confidence.
O’Brien’s opponent on Friday was Eddie Betts, who starred with five goals.
“The whole thing about a backline player is confidence,” he said.
“If you’ve got your confidence up, you’re going okay.
“I just noticed a couple of goals that Betts kicked. He wouldn’t normally kick those types of goals – Harry would be so close to him.
“But he’s just lost that little bit of touch and feel.”
Malthouse said Jarryd Blair, Dayne Beams and Steele Sidebottom would all have to step up with key midfielder Luke Ball out for the season with a knee reconstruction.
Their old coach added Collingwood faced a massive challenge to retain their top-four strength.
“There’s a big fight on their hands,” he said.