In episode two of Malthouse: No Limits – a three-part documentary produced by AFL Media – the Carlton coach says people judge him simply by what they see of him on television during games.
"That's (when I'm) fully committed to that cause (and) nothing else interests me," he explains.
"That is club time, that is player time, that is me giving everything I possibly can, and people judge you on that time.
"I am a different person away from that time."
Malthouse gives viewers an insight into some of his interests outside the game.
"I enjoy a lot of things," he says. "Outside of family I enjoy international news, I enjoy bush walks, I enjoy all the bits and pieces I touch on that I'm no good at – anthropology, astronomy, biology … I'm not good enough for it but I like to know it.
“But when I put my game-day head on [I’m] judged."
Blues forward Eddie Betts believes perception does not meet reality when it comes to Malthouse ‘the person’.
"You think of Mick Malthouse as a scary, scary person and intimidating, but once you get to meet the guy he's very family-orientated … and he gives a lot to you and he's not scary after all," he says.
In the documentary Malthouse also reveals his pre-game routine, thoughts on coaching for life, his late mother Marie's influence on his behavior in the coach's box and even his musical tastes.
