Journos trying to play "king maker", nothing new there.
FWIW, if the club assess their options and truly believe Malthouse is the best choice going forward, so be it.
But if they do, they should have the balls to set the framework in the clubs interests, unlike their predecessors who were weak as piss.
Firstly, the club should implement a credible leadership program that develops true leaders, not puppets for the coach.
Give the players some actual involvement.
The club should chase the best assistant coaches and implement a coaching structure that gives them real input, opportunities to develop and a pathway for the most proficient to achieve the senior role in the foreseeable future.
Keep Rob Wiley by all means but as a mentor for all the coaches. His current role is only devised to strengthen Micks power base IMO. He shouldn't have an active role in the box.
A real head of football who has the imprimatur to ensure this structure is not only implemented but also actively encouraged. its pointless having a situation like Collingwood where Mick agreed to the Buckley succession and then totally ignored him and refused to buy into it.
The club is the employer and its time they showed some leadership and balls and acted like it. If Mick can't pursue the role passionately as devised by the club, that's his choice.
But its time the employer set the parameters, not the employee. (Thanks Sticks and co.)
The recent situations where they hired Pagan and Malthouse and gave them free reign belongs well in the past.