What happened?
Three-time Premiership coach Mick Malthouse has been sacked from the Carlton coaching post after the Blues slipped to a 1-7 start to the 2015 AFL season.
Despite supporting Malthouse through the early rounds of the tumultuous campaign, the Carlton board bowed to public pressure and announced that the 61-year-old would have his position reviewed during the Blues bye over Round 11 – which would have been after the Sydney (away) and Adelaide (home) matches.
Malthouse responded to the review announcement on radio stating the coach is almost always the first to go when a club comes under siege from the media and he will remain Carlton coach until sacked.
“I will not be standing down,” Malthouse said.
“I’m not going to let (the players) down… they deserve better.
“Good boards stay sound. Boards crack under pressure.”
The Carlton board convened shortly after Malthouse made his comments and decided to remove him from the position as senior coach.
What does this mean for Carlton?
The Blues are already in disarray with their only win in eight games coming against St Kilda. It was announced after the loss to Geelong that the club will be undergoing a ‘list rebuild’ designed to eventually return the Blues to former glories.
Malthouse’s removal means the club can now implement a strategic rebuild plan with a new coach in the drivers seat.
Carlton’s impending new coach will be the fifth to lead the club since Blues legend David Parkin retired from the role at the end of the 2000 season.
Since Parkin, Wayne Brittain, Denis Pagan, Brett Ratten and Malthouse have had the reins at Carlton with Ratten the only coach to record a 50-plus winning percentage.
Brett Ratten is still Carlton's most successful coach since David Parkin retired in 2000. (Photo by Getty Images)
Who are the candidates for the role?
Luckily for Carlton, there is no shortage of options to consider for the coaching role.
Experienced coaches Guy McKenna, John Worsfold and Michael Voss are currently available while the club could opt to appoint the most impressive assistant coach with Stuart Dew, Brett Montgomery and Scott Burns all in the frame.
McKenna is seen by many to have been unfairly given the bullet by the Gold Coast Suns at the end of the 2014 campaign and will be the early frontrunner for the job.
McKenna has emerged as early favourite for the Carlton coaching job. (Photo by Getty Images)
What does this mean for Malthouse?
Surely it is the end of Malthouse’s AFL coaching career after 31 years, three premierships and an AFL/VFL record 718 games across four clubs – Footscray, West Coast, Collingwood and Carlton.
Malthouse’s game style of playing around the boundary line won a premiership at Collingwood but appears to be redundant in today’s game with the Blues failing to make it work over the past few seasons.
His only chance at a reprieve will be at a club seeking an extra edge to complete their flag push – possibly Richmond and North Melbourne.