Modest Mick helps Wahgunyah

By Robert Muir

May 31, 2022

Michael Kruen, Michael Malthouse with the football, Cooper Bennett and Darryl Hore at training last Thursday.

Obviously, Mick Malthouse loved being a premiership player and three-times premiership coach. And he has coached 718 VFL/AFL games – more than anyone else.

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But the 68-year-old handballed those achievements when The Free Press asked about his career highlights.

The legend football person responded with two main highlights: “Seeing young players develop. You don’t count your games; you make your games count.

“Losses can be a highlight when you learn from them.”

Malthouse took charge of training at Wahgunyah last Thursday evening, spending 30 minutes with the Under 12 boys and an hour and half with seniors which began in the change sheds with explanations of drills subsequently put to use on the oval.

He loved being at the Wahgunyah Recreation Reserve to help a struggling Lions team. When he heard Wahgunyah Football Netball Club President Darryl Hore speaking to 3AW’s Neil Mitchell on talkback radio last month about the struggles, Malthouse rang Mitchell.

“Without kids, you can’t survive” Malthouse told The Free Press. Here the football legend is pictured with some Under 12 boys.

“I know Neil. I text him and rang Darryl and said ‘If I could take a training session and have a dinner with me speaking to raise some money I’m happy to’. I rang two great clubs Collingwood and Carlton, got two signed football jumpers – their support was great,” Malthouse said.

He understands about country football and battling clubs, having experienced first-hand playing with Wendouree West near Ballarat before going to St Kilda in 1972.

Wahgunyah currently has just the one, Under 12 boys, team and no Under 14s and 17s. “Without kids, you can’t survive,” Malthouse said.

“The club feels that the kids are scared of the Andrews government closing down football for a third year in a row (covid-19). It immediately struck a chord with me because I’ve got grandchildren who have hardly played sport in two years.

“Dozens and dozens of clubs are struggling for a particular a number of reasons. It would have been so easy for Wahgunyah to fold.

“But if the club dies, the netball dies and the town dies.”

Two Wahgunyah club stalwarts, Wes Canny and Peter Wright OAM, with Mick Malthouse.

Malthouse loved seeing the youngsters at Wahgunyah. “There could be kids out there training tonight who are future AFL players. There are just as many footballers playing AFL from the country as the city. Kids need to have a pathway and financial support.”

Having the football legend at Wahgunyah was “absolutely spectacular” according to Mr Hore. “It was just fantastic, Mick’s a very infectious type of guy.

“The Under 12 boys were so excited. The feedback from parents was unbelievable.”

About 220 people attended the dinner and two-hour talk by Malthouse which was emceed by Tallangatta league vice president Scott Fraser. “He did a marvellous MC job,” the president said.

“I thank everyone for their support, everyone who came, the wonderful ladies led by Sandra Johnstone – without them the night wouldn’t have happened – our sponsors. Thank you all so much.

“During his talk, Mick said so much can be learnt from footy losses and builds character. Our club will benefit from his visit.”

Wahgunyah captain Cooper Bennett was thrilled to have Richmond’s 1980 premiership player and premiership coach of West Coast in 1992 and 1994, and of Collingwood in 2010 in Wahgunyah.

“It’s sensational Mick Malthouse coming up from Melbourne to take charge of training,” the 24-year-old captain, his first year in the role, said.

“It’s truly heart-warming for us players to have this opportunity. This could be the turning point for the club.”

Back from Cairns and helping with coaching, Michael Kruen agreed, saying the night was magnificent. “Everyone enjoyed the night,” the president concluded.