Mal was one of the cornerstones of our team during the premiership years of 2001-2003 but that will mean very little when the Lions and Bombers face off.
While I don’t agree with the way Mal handled parting ways with the club by claiming he was retiring so the club would release him from his contract, it’s pretty hard to hold long-term grudges with a person who you’ve shared so many good times with.
As a full-back Mal is second to none. He has dominated the position for years. On the field his competitiveness, discipline and athleticism has always stood out.
It is hard to believe that as a Lion he was never rewarded with All-Australian selection because his performances certainly warranted it.
Every week Mal would play on and beat the best full-forwards in the competition, the players that could single handedly win matches for their team. While others outside failed to recognise his importance, his team-mates and coaches did.
Off the field Mal is an intriguing character with a very dry sense of humour. Once you get to know him he provides very good company.
I was fortunate enough to travel with him to Papua New Guinea where he was born and is now considered a national treasure. Together we conducted AFL clinics with local players.
I think he found it hard to believe how run-down and hostile the country had become.
On the last night the local footballers put on a dinner for us which was kicked off with a tribal song and dance by the locals. The only thing I could make out in the song was my name.
When I turned to Mal to ask him what they were singing about, he told with the straightest of faces that they were singing “Luke Power we want to eat you.” I don’t think I left big Mal’s side for the rest of the trip!
Many people have asked me over the last week whether we will target the big bloke. My answer to that is - how do you target a man who weighs over 100kg and stands at about six foot three?
If you were thinking about targeting Mal you’d have to hit him with a truck. Maybe Jamie Charman and Jonathan Brown could fit into that category.
You’ll have to watch and find out.
