Malthouse keeps Rules job despite player slur

THE AFL has confirmed that Mick Malthouse will remain as manager of the Australian International Rules side that tours Ireland in October, despite being disciplined for a “highly offensive” exchange of words with an opposition player.

The Collingwood coach’s position had been questioned after he was fined AUS$7,500 (€5,144) for calling St Kilda’s Stephen Milne a “f**king rapist” during the quarter-time break.

Milne was hit with a $3,000 (€2,057) fine for making remarks about Malthouse’s age and the sexuality of his assistant, Paul Licuria. Licuria was also fined $3,000 (€2,057) for using unacceptable language.

AFL operations manager Adrian Anderson has revealed that Malthouse’s job was never under threat, despite his inappropriate behaviour.

“It was never a consideration,” Anderson said. “Mick will be doing it... unless we hear otherwise from him. He would have been coach in Ireland had we toured there last year and he will do so this year.”

There is a good chance that he will renew acquaintances with Milne on the tour, as the Saints’ goal sneak is the more mobile type of player preferred by the Aussies in recent years.

One report Down Under predicted that the Irish media would be certain to raise the issue with Malthouse, given that they had “dogged and baited” his predecessor, Kevin Sheedy, the last time the Aussies had come here.

Meanwhile, Malthouse defended his denial to the local media after last week’s game that he had been involved in any verbal exchange, saying that incidents happened in football “which are better left unsaid in public”.

Later, he referred to Britain’s wartime prime minister, Winston Churchill.

“Anyone who has any doubt about the importance of the common good should study one of history’s greatest figures, Winston Churchill.

“There were times when his public pronouncements bore little resemblance to what was actually taking place, but he did it for the greater good.”