Exits leave Carlton blue
Mick Malthouse sure knows how to make a departure.
Like he did throughout a career that marked him out as one of the game's coaching greats, he went out swinging.
And at least one of the blows he landed was telling – his assertion that Eddie Betts had already signed with Adelaide 18 months before the star goal kicker had left Carlton.
The claim in a particularly explosive interview on Melbourne radio station SEN yesterday morning that sealed his own fate was classic Mick.
But it also reminded me of two things.
Firstly, that good small forwards are like gold. Secondly, that Carlton's decision to allow both Betts and Jeff Garlett to leave in the space of 12 months was fatally flawed.
The position of small forward may just be the most undervalued in the competition.
Out of all the positions on the ground and removing defensive pressure from the equation, a genuine forward pocket can have as few as a dozen opportunities to impact a game.
And when those opportunities do come along, particularly around goal, the small forward is judged more harshly than almost any other player if he doesn't nail them.
Take the 2013 AFL grand final as an example.
Fremantle had a host of players that got the wobbles in front of goal. But in the wash-up of the disappointing result, it was Hayden Ballantyne that copped much of the flak for his 'horror' performance.
Ballantyne kicked two behinds from 14 disposals that day. He produced three clangers and went to ground at critical moments. But he was far from alone.
And consider the scrutiny surrounding Hawthorn's loss to Sydney in last Saturday night's grand final replay.
The major talking point? Luke Breust's miss from 35m out almost directly in front with just over a minute left on the clock. An earlier goal, five tackles and seven contested possessions were quickly forgotten.
Betts is undoubtedly one of the three best small forwards in the game right now.
The 28-year-old has kicked a highly accurate 29.9 in eight games to be sitting second in the Coleman Medal race. Only West Coast's Josh Kennedy (31) has scored more goals.
Across at Melbourne, Garlett has proven an equally savvy recruit. While not as dominant in terms of scoreboard impact, the West Aussie has kicked 16 goals over the same period.
The return has him leading Melbourne's goal kicking this season.
Without Betts and Garlett, Carlton have lacked potency in attack and are the third worst team in the competition for points scored.
Senior management who allowed two classy small forwards with that much talent to walk out the door deserve the sack as much as Malthouse ever did.
On the subject of Malthouse, I always viewed his greatest strength as his man management skills.
During his days at the Western Bulldogs, West Coast and Collingwood, it was clear the players had a strong belief in his leadership.
That loyalty was never clearer than in the case of Dale Thomas. Putting aside the fact that Thomas appears a bust for Carlton, the Collingwood premiership player demonstrated the intense loyalty that so many players have readily given to Malthouse in jumping ship.
When it comes to potential replacements for Malthouse, the time might just be right for the likes of dual premiership player Stuart Dew to earn his shot at being a senior coach.
Dew is a proven winner as a player, having won flags with both Port Adelaide and Hawthorn.
He is smart and has a genuine presence. He has also earned his stripes in approaching the halfway point of his fifth season as a key member of Sydney's coaching panel.
After unsuccessfully turning to a highly respected senior coach, Carlton could do far worse than backing in Dew's fresh blood and knowledge of the modern game.
Fantasy Fodder
I've got two words for you – Tom Rockliff. Do it. Now. If you've not got the Brisbane captain, this is no time to mess about. Thanks to early season injuries and his decision to play hurt, Rockliff ($480,000) has plummeted in value by a remarkable $283,000 since the start of the year. But the inspirational midfielder is about to start going up in price – and quickly. Brisbane lost to Essendon by 58 points last Sunday, but it didn't stop Rockliff amassing 125 Fantasy points. With matches over the next month against St Kilda, GWS and the Western Bulldogs, I'm expecting last year's Fantasy champion to get plenty of it.
The Heat's On...
Carlton's board. The handling of Mick Malthouse's sacking could hardly have been worse. President Mark LoGiudice and chief executive Steven Trigg appeared consistently reactive to media scrutiny and to Malthouse's own comments in the public arena. The flip flop on Malthouse's fate, from being decided during the round 11 bye to his immediate sacking, made the club's senior administrators look foolish. They now have an awful lot to get right in the short term, starting with finding a suitable coach, re-engaging the fan base and winning back support from the playing group. On the basis of the past few weeks, it will be an uphill battle.
Top Tweet
Xavier Ellis, @XaviEllis18
"If Liam Duggan isn't this weekends NAB Rising Star, I'm changing home loan providers!!"
The West Coast defender went into bat for his first-year team-mate. For the record, Duggan had 23 disposals and eight inside-50s in the club's win over St Kilda last Saturday. He was pipped to the nomination by GWS forward Cam McCarthy, who kicked four goals from 12 disposals in the victory over Adelaide on the same day.
