In 2012, he spent the year in the media, much to the amusement of many in that industry with whom he has crossed paths over the journey. But even then it was clear he was a coach on a sabbatical, not a broadcaster in training.

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A player at St Kilda and Richmond, Malthouse has embraced, and in return been embraced, by four more clubs as a coach. And his influence on the Western Bulldogs, West Coast, Collingwood and now Carlton, has been profound.

Malthouse, a three-time premiership coach, moves into exclusive company on Friday night when he coaches his 700th game, joining legendary Collingwood mentor Jock McHale as the only men in the history of the game to reach that mark, a story detailed in this round’s AFL Record. 

Give Malthouse his due. When he started coaching, it was a part-time position (he had an office job) and the players were of his generation. Now, most of the players on the list are younger than his children.

“He’s got his basic principles,” said Robert Wiley, a teammate of Malthouse’s at Richmond, his lieutenant at both West Coast and Carlton and also one of his closest friends.

“But to be able to stay in the game you have to be able to change. You have your basic principles, but at the same time you change some things around them. And the players know that with Mick, there is always an open door policy.”

Right now for Malthouse, all roads lead to Carlton. He has always been fiercely loyal to the colours he wears. A documentary he featured in last year showed him teaching his grandchildren to say: “Go Blues”.

Where he hangs his shingle once he finally gives up coaching might be a different story.