IT SEEMS Cameron Ling is more interested in his coaching future than any beef with Carlton mentor Mick Malthouse.
Prized by several clubs as a future senior coach, Ling has been the subject of much speculation since announcing he would decide on his future in coming weeks.
Ling confirmed he had met Melbourne officials in recent days.
"I had a quick coffee with a couple of the Melbourne guys, (Paul Roos) included, threw around what was happening from their end and they sussed out what was happening from mine," he told the Seven Network.
Ling works for the network as a commentator, and it was in that guise that he was singled out by an irate Malthouse during Carlton's loss to the Sydney Swans on Saturday night at the SCG.
Malthouse had grown increasingly frustrated at a lack of replays available to him in the coaching box, with the broadcaster's feed showing his own reactions.
On his way to the rooms at half-time, the Carlton coach eyed the Cats' premiership captain, working for broadcaster Channel Seven at the time, and unleashed a spray.
Malthouse was heavily criticised for the unnecessary approach but Ling said he understood.
"Mick was frustrated and a bit agitated and I just calmly said 'Mick, you understand I've got no control over that - don't speak like that' and he was fine," he said.
"He was good enough to give me a call and just see if everything was OK and I appreciated that."
For his part, Malthouse said the reaction had been "over the top".
"I called up Cameron to say have you got an issue and he said 'no, it was cleared up Saturday; there was no need to have rung'," he said.
"But I'm glad I did because the response was exactly what I thought it was."
Malthouse was also criticised for being short and abrasive in his post-match media conference, reacting poorly to questions from Channel Seven journalist Samantha Lane.
He indicated a desire to change his behaviour for the good of his club.
"If it's not good, it's not good for Carlton," he said.
