> Watch Mick Malthouse address the media ahead of coaching his 600th VFL/AFL matchCollingwoodfc.com.au takes a look back at the coaching career of Michael Malthouse ahead of his 600th VFL/AFL game. He will be the third coach in the history of the game to reach the 600 game milestone behind Jock McHale (714 games all with Collingwood) and Kevin Sheedy (635 games all with Essendon).
Footscray (1984-1989) 135 games -67 wins, 66 losses, 2 draws
Mick Malthouse took the reins at Footscray the year after he retired as a player at Richmond (121 games, St Kilda - 53 games). Malthouse coached six seasons and made the finals in 1985, losing in the preliminary final to Hawthorn by 10-points.
Malthouse oversaw the final years of Terry Wallace, who won back-to-back best and fairest awards under the coach in 1988-89.It was clear after six seasons with Footscray that Malthouse was up for the challenges of coaching at the elite level. He showed a strong sense of professionalism and dedication to his head coaching role.
West Coast (1990 - 1999) 243 games - 156 wins, 85 losses, 2 draws
Malthouse coached the Eagles to the finals in every year he was at the helm. He commanded a winning percentage of 64% and participated in a staggering 25 finals matches across nine seasons.
He experienced his first taste of premiership glory as coach in 1992 when his side returned to the grand final after losing it in 1991 to beat a strong Geelong outfit. It was the first AFL premiership won by a team outside Victoria.
The West Coast and Malthouse combination again struck success two years later celebrating another premiership victory over Geelong, beating the Cats by 80-points.
The Eagles continued their position in finals for the next five years until 1999, the final year of Malthouse’s career at the club.In that time Malthouse fostered the development of John Worsfold who captained the side to both premierships and eventually coached the Eagles to a flag in 2006.
Collingwood (2000 - present) 221 games -111 wins, 110 losses, 0 draws
Malthouse arrived at Collingwood with the challenge to take a team, which had not made the finals for the last five years, and turn them into an on-field success.
It took two years for Malthouse to take the Magpies to the finals, a feat which has occurred five times in his nine seasons at the club.
In 2002, Collingwood finished fourth on the ladder at the end of the home-and-away season and knocked off both South Australian teams to make its first grand final appearance since 1990.
In a tight, low-scoring affair for most of the day, Collingwood went down by 11-points to the Brisbane Lions. Magpie skipper Nathan Buckley was named the Norm Smith medalist after his 32-possessions and one goal.
The following season the Magpies enjoyed a strong season culminating in another grand final appearance. Collingwood had a relatively strong run through the finals, taking out Brisbane in the qualifying final before smashing Port Adelaide by 44-points to reach that illustrious final day on the football calendar.
Heading into the match as favourites, Collingwood were outplayed in the first half and were forced to close a seven-goal margin after the main break. It was too big of a task for Malthouse and his players and the side saw another chance at premiership glory slip away.Now into his tenth season as Collingwood head coach, Malthouse has taken his team to the finals in the last three years including losing by less than a kick to Geelong in the 2007 preliminary final.
While Malthouse’s future is unclear with his contract set to expire at the end of the season, his place as one of the greatest coaches in the history of the VFL/AFL is a certainty.
Michael Malthouse’s finals career
15 finals series (fifth all-time behind Jock McHale-27, Kevin Sheedy-19, Allan Jeans-17 and Dick Reynolds-16).
10 consecutive finals series with West Coast (only behind Norm Smith who coached Melbourne from 1954-64).
5 grand final appearances(16th all-time)
2 premierships
