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CTV > Post-match with Alan Didak CTV > Mick Malthouse's post-match press conference CTV > Watch the boys sing the songCOLLINGWOOD coach Mick Malthouse says he was delighted with the form of Irishman Marty Clarke who played his best game since last year in the Magpies thumping win over Geelong at the MCG on Friday night.
Malthouse revealed he had been concerned about the young backman playing Gaelic football in Ireland over the break.
“I was a little but worried about Marty Clarke when he came back to us (in pre-season) because he went over for a holiday and came back with a championship cup, so the ‘rest’ was playing football," Malthouse said after the match
"I was a bit worried about burn-out in the young boy, but it is not the case. He has a fantastic resolve and he has terrific stamina and can outlast most of our players.”
Malthouse noted it should be remembered that Clarke is playing just his second year of Australian football.
“He has to re-evaluate how he plays the game. We take so much for granted. That was his first year of footy last year and we just assume that he can step in and do it again," Malthouse said.
"Every club picks holes in people’s games and no doubt with Marty they worked out a few things. We needed to look at that and he has come out the other side pretty well.
Malthouse said he was “concerned, but not overly concerned” when Geelong scored three goals at the start of the third term and looked like coming back.
“You always get concerned with the top side. They kicked 7.8 last week – I don’t think we had the balance right and you can’t afford not to have good balance against Geelong.
"For that brief period I don’t think we touched the football -- they kicked the first one and that was the sign that perhaps I should have changed something up.”
