MICK Malthouse says he is "totally aligned" to Carlton’s rebuild, playing down speculation he is at odds with the club's leadership about its direction.
A 77-point loss to Geelong on Friday night at Etihad Stadium capped off a tumultuous week for the Blues, after Malthouse claimed on Thursday the rebuilding tag was significant in their on-field freefall.
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Friday night’s loss was Carlton’s fourth in succession, and its 1-7 record sees it anchored to the foot of the table.
CEO Steven Trigg responded by saying he was "surprised" by the coach's comments, and admitted there was "potentially a point" where Malthouse's tenure could end if things didn't improve.
But Malthouse said he was on board with the direction and the club's leadership, and a rebuild was "exactly" what needed to happen.
"I am totally in line with it. Totally. I know exactly where we are," Malthouse said.
Click here to watch Mick Malthouse's full post-match press conference
"I made the comment inadvertently when it becomes in the public forum the impact on the players.
"That hasn't changed. I'm in total alignment with the football club, in particular Steven, I totally understand where he's coming from, that he's the right person to lead the club in a manner that he wants to lead us.
"I'm not only in total agreement but I'm fully behind him, because that's where the club's got to go."
Trigg said in a pre-match interview on Melbourne radio station 3AW he hadn't yet spoken to Malthouse about his comments on Thursday.
But Malthouse said they had talked, and did so every match day.
Malthouse also said he had been given no reassurances about his position at Carlton outside of president Mark LoGiudice's public declaration he would coach out the year.
But rather than express his desire to take the Blues into their next era, Malthouse said he was "philosophical" about his future but emphatic he wouldn't walk away.
"It's not in my DNA to give up," he said.
"I signed a three-year contract. I am always in full belief that I don't like seeing coaches go from a contract. We've seen that happen on a regular time frame over 20 or 30 years.
"The three-year contract finishes in October.
"If the club's going to reappoint me, that's fantastic. If they don't, I understand. I signed a three-year contract."
Malthouse also said the details of whether he wanted to stay at the club would remain a discussion for between him and the board.
"I've never crawled and knocked on doors for a contract. They're either given to you or they're not," he said.
"I'll be the first to say if I'm not ready, and I'll be the first to say if I haven't got the energy.
"I would never embarrass myself or the football club, and particularly my family and players, so that's between me and the organisation."
While he said the players' effort was better on Friday night – in particular Ed Curnow's performance against Joel Selwood – the Blues' tackling was "terrible".
They recorded 35 tackles to the Cats' 55.
Malthouse said Dale Thomas would likely need further surgery on his shoulder at the end of the season, but was expected to get through the year.
