MM catching Jock McHale is like Plugger passing Coventry...

collie dog · Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2014 10:11 pm

.. and I'm not happy.

Mick coaches his 700th game this weekend and will soon overtake Jock McHale's record number of games as coach. I have the same feelings now as I did when Lockett passed the great Gordon Coventry's record number of goals.

Let me put it this way, it is far easier to tick off records in the modern era than it was back in the hey-day of the VFL. They play far more football these days than they ever did in the McHale-Coventry years.

As far as I am concerned Mick can coach 1,000 games and he won't be fit to tie old Jock's bootlaces. God rest his soul.

AN_Inkling · Joined: 06 Oct 2007

Mick, a modern great. Salute.

holdencaulfield · Joined: 12 Apr 2013

Mick will have more games and Jock will have more Flags so it does not bother me at all.

John Wren · Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2014 10:49 pm

terrific achievement this milestone. his longevity in the game is a remarkable feat.

Pies4shaw · pies4shaw Joined: 08 Oct 2007

So what's the record for most seasons coached without winning a flag?

David · Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2014 11:59 pm

Brenny · Joined: 05 Apr 2011 Location: Westpac Centre

Whilst I don't like Malthouse (didn't whilst he was the coach, either), there is no denying he is a modern day great and may end up a Legend of the game.

You don't coach as many games as he has if you're a terrible coach.

Good luck to him.

skaman · Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2014 12:59 am

As above ^^^. More games these days..true, but..I would say ALOT more pressure and scrutiny on the modern day coach. So for me, credit where it is due, it is a great feat by MM. Though my adulation for him as a coach and person has waned, he will be forever remembered as a Premiership winning coach for our great club. One I will acknowledge a lot more after his moment of madness at club Scumbag. Should and will be welcomed back into the fold in the future. Well done Mick.

sixpoints · Joined: 27 Sep 2010 Location: Lulie Street

Jock
38 seasons 713 games 466 wins 8 flags in 18 GF's
Mick
30 seasons 699 games 402 wins 3 flags in 8 GF's

(Jock was ill and didn't coach on the day of the 1930 flag. He did coach every other game & final that year, so I've counted it as his 8th flag)

(the 2010 replay is counted as Mick's 8th GF)

On any grounds, both are great coaches.

collie dog · Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2014 6:50 am

qldmagpie67 · Joined: 18 Dec 2008

Credit here credit is due his longevity under today's scrutiny is a great effort. I was personally peeved when he quit the club because he wouldn't be the main man then lied saying I can never coach against my boys.
But he moved on and so have I.
Congrats mick a fine achievement.

PS there is no guarantee he will break Jock's record a his position at the scum will come under immense pressure with a new board.
They could well be 4-11 very soon.
With a possible 11 games to go this season he would need 3 finals appearances to break the record so it won't happen this season and there is every chance he won't be around next year as the scum will clear the decks of the coaching ranks and players at years end.
If by chance he does manage to stay then he will get the record but it won't come with 8 flags which IMO is the standard which he should be judged by.

Flashman · Joined: 11 Aug 2007

On paper his record is good.

But he held two long term positions at Collingwood and West Coast who were very wealthy, stable, well funded and very well resourced. He also enjoyed total board support and long term job stability.

His record at Footscray and Carlton (although only there for a short time) where he didn't get the same all encompassing support and benefits is underwhelming by comparison.

Can he coach? Of course but I often wonder whether someone else would've done just as well or even better if they'd enjoyed the same privileged circumstances he did.

Mountains Magpie · Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2014 9:44 am

Presti35 · Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2014 10:21 am

I know John Northey holds the record for most games coached without a premiership. He coached from 85-98 (315 games).

Presti35 · Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2014 10:27 am

Mick needs another 15 games to beat the record. Which means it will be early next season when he gets it. (AFL will no doubt make the game against us).

You never know, Carlton might sack him! Razz

I don't want him to break it. But I do respect his record as no doubt, he is a modern icon of the game. (IMO, he'll be elevated to legend status in the future). And I cant bring myself to "hate" him after our 2010 triumph. It just sucks that he went to Carlton. (Same thing with Leigh Matthews when he went to the Lions).

The other thing of course, is what would we be feeling if he was still coaching Collingwood?