Should Mick have quit while he was ahead?

During the first half of the regular season of 2015 Carlton coach Mick Malthouse broke Jock McHale’s 66 year old record to become the AFL’s longest serving coach.

The tributes flowed from all around Australia as football fans far and wide stopped to realize just what an incredible feat coaching 715 games at the top level was.

However Malthouse’s night was no fairytale as his side continued their abysmal start to the 2015 season after they were absolutely obliterated to the tune of 75 points by their oldest rivals Collingwood.

While no one is denying that Malthouse has achieved something remarkable and will be forever remembered as an iconic AFL figure, the question has to be asked:

Is 31 years too many years in the top AFL coaching job?

Malthouse’s current winning percentage stands at 57% which is certainly not un-respectable by any means, however a figure which has significantly dropped since joining Carlton three years ago.

In his three year tenure at the Navy Blues Mick has only enjoyed a 40% winning record, a figure which has caused his overall winning percentage to decrease significantly.

When Malthouse’s career is shown in a table such as above it is very clear that his record when coaching Carlton is far worse than any other during his career.

Even I his early coaching days at the Bulldogs, a time when a coach is expected to have less success his winning percentage was still significantly better than it is currently at Carlton.

If Malthouse had of retired after departing Collingwood in 2011 his winning percentage would have remained at 63.5, a figure which would do his memory far more justice in years to come.
At the end of 2011 (the Orange graph) bar) Malthouse’s record was very respectable compared to other great coaching names, however now his current record looks quite lackluster in comparison.

When it is all said and done Malthouse will be forever remembered as one of the all-time great AFL coaches, and if he can somehow coach Carlton to a premiership then he will be labelled a genius.

However at this stage it looks as though Mick may have bitten off more than he can chew, and unfortunately it may leave a small stain on an otherwise remarkable career.