Collingwood president Eddie McGuire has sparked debate over Carlton AFL coach Brett Ratten’s future after McGuire said Mick Malthouse would be a good fit at Carlton.
After guiding the Blues to 15th, 11th, seventh, eighth and fifth, Ratten is under pressure in 2012 to improve the club’s on-field fortunes.
But after being premiership favourites earlier in the season, the seventh-placed Blues have slumped to a third loss in their past four matches with their 54-point defeat against Port Adelaide last weekend.
Malthouse, 58, was controversially moved aside as Collingwood coach at the end of the 2011 season after steering the Magpies to a premiership in 2010 and a runner-up finish the following year.
The three-time premiership coach has moved into media roles but the fire would be still burning inside him to get involved again if the right offer came along, according to McGuire.
“Carlton would be a club that would have all of the infrastructure, the player list, the whole thing that would I’m sure at least make him lift his eye,” McGuire told Triple M Radio on Monday.
“A team of that ilk would be something that maybe would get Mick’s attention.
“I don’t think he’d want to start from scratch again with a team like a Melbourne or even a Gold Coast or Greater Western Sydney.
“But if a spot became available he’d be the first bloke that people would look at.
“Is he good at pulling teams together? He’s magnificent at doing that.
“Is he a coach that’s still relevant? Yep, absolutely no doubt about that.”
McGuire said Malthouse was still close friends with Greg Swann, the former Collingwood CEO who’s now in the same role at Carlton.
Blues’ ruckman Robbie Warnock was quick to play down the Malthouse talk, saying the players were right behind Ratten.
“That (Malthouse talk) is a media beat-up. If you’re going to buy into that stuff you’ll be doing your head in,” Warnock said.
Carlton face defending premiers Geelong on Friday followed by tough games against West Coast, Hawthorn and Collingwood.
Jarrad Waite (back) is aiming to return this week but midfielder Heath Scotland (calf) has joined a long injury list.
“We’ve had injuries but there’s probably lots of different things,” Warnock said.
“The guys who come in we expect them to play their role and play well but we can’t put our finger on any one thing.”
He conceded enthusiasm and intensity were down in the squad.
Brownlow Medallist Gerard Healy said Ratten’s future would remain under threat.
“It’s quite clear that if Mick wants to coach again and Brett Ratten struggles, the speculation that has been there for the last four years is going to be heightened once again,” Healy told Radio 3AW.
