So Mick thinks he will coach again in 2013. A lapse of 2 years (2014) would make it questionable - two years out of the gig would make it hard. Presumably he would now only accept a Melbourne based team as he loves spending time with his grandkids. So in 2013 what options might open up.

Richmond...Hardwick....no way

Geelong....Scott......no way

North Melbourne.....Scott....no way

Essendon.............Hird...no way

Hawks.......Clarkson....no way (If Hawks cut Clarkson to take Malthouse ...we'll take Clarkson and we won't care about Malthouse.

Bulldogs....Eade...we'll soon know what the new scenery out at Western Oval is, ....however I couldn't see Malthouse going back their.

Carlton.....Ratten...(Blues would do anything). But they are going to be good for a few years and it would be difficult to cut Ratten for a few more years now.

That means there really won't be any jobs on offer in 2013.

So that leaves Melbourne for 2012 or Mick can forget coaching again..He'll be having some sleepless nights over the next two months. The club decision has put us one step ahead of Eddie.

Reminds me somewhat of the Essendon situation from a couple if years back, where their board acted too swiftly and appointed Matthew Knights in Grand Final week... When all they needed to do was wait a week and Thompson might have become available.

Malthouse, rightly so, and like Thompson in 2007, will not look at any offers until Collingwood's season is over. Our board needs to wait until that happens and then make the necessary approach. Based on recent interviews, it's obvious he still wants to coach and would certainly not rule out any offers that came his way.

Let's hope our board shows a bit more patience and sense than they displayed today.

Eddie is really worried about the intellectual property that Malthouse will take with him. He will fight tooth and nail to keep him next year but after that Malthouse may walk. That is not a partnership that is going to work.

Eddie is really worried about the intellectual property that Malthouse will take with him. He will fight tooth and nail to keep him next year but after that Malthouse may walk. That is not a partnership that is going to work.

Eddie can say what he likes. There is nothing illegal about approaching a coach, and the only person Eddie could sure would be Malthouse himself for breach of contract. But given he's already come out publicly and stated that won't happen, then he is clearly mouthing off - as he tends to do - because he's obviously worried about losing that IP as you said.