Mick Malthouse’s long list of accomplishments will grow on Monday, when the three-time premiership coach becomes just the second person in the history of the game to coach 650 VFL/AFL matches.
Only Jock McHale, who coached Collingwood 714 times from 1912-49, is ahead of Malthouse on the all-time list.
Additionally, Malthouse will coach Collingwood for the 272nd time in the annual Queen’s Birthday blockbuster against Melbourne at the MCG, which moves him into equal second place (alongside Phonse Kyne) on the all-time list of most matches coached at Collingwood.
Malthouse, who played 174 games for St Kilda and Richmond from 1972-83, began his coaching career in 1984 at just 30 years of age when he took the reins at Footscray.
After six seasons and 135 matches leading the Bulldogs, Malthouse headed to West Coast where he coached the Eagles to an extraordinary ten consecutive finals appearances from 1990-99. In that time he coached 243 matches, including the 1992 and 1994 premierships, as well as the 1991 grand final.
Malthouse moved to Collingwood in 2000 when the club was at rock bottom, and in 12 seasons has steered the team to seven finals series, most notably the drought-breaking 2010 premiership triumph. The Magpies also contested the 2002 and 2003 grand finals and preliminary finals in 2007 and 2009.
The Magpies are on track to contest their sixth-straight finals appearance under Malthouse, which would be the longest active finals-series streak of any club.
Malthouse’s 649 matches is made up of 373 wins, 270 losses and six draws. He has coached 47 finals matches, placing him second on the all-time list, behind only McHale (59).
Malthouse coaching career
Footscray (1984-1989)
135 games
67 wins, 66 losses, 2 draws
West Coast (1990-1999)
243 games
156 wins, 85 losses, 2 draws
Premierships 1992, 1994
Collingwood (2000-2011)
271 games
150 wins, 119 losses, 2 draws
Premiership 2010
Malthouse playing career
Debut: Round 15, 1972 Footscray v St Kilda at Whitten Oval
St Kilda (1972-1976)
53 games, 5 goals
Richmond (1976-1983)
121 games, 10 goals
Premiership 1980
Total: 174 games, 15 goals
