No honeymoon at Blues for Mick

Mick Malthouse says Carlton will be playing a brand of football aimed at September action. Picture: Wayne Ludbey. Source: Herald Sun

Cartoon by David McArthur. Source: Herald Sun

COACH Mick Malthouse yesterday promised Carlton would be "up and running early" to cope with a draw from hell to open the season.

Malthouse said the Blues would play a brand of football geared towards September action.

"Given what I have just heard about our draw - which is something like Richmond, Collingwood, West Coast, Geelong and Adelaide - the (AFL) have done us no favours," Malthouse said.

"But I go along with what Andrew Demetriou says - the draw is the draw is the draw, and very rarely does the top four ever reflect anything but that."

Malthouse was speaking at the MCG launch of Malthouse, A Football Life, a book by his daughter Christi that details his 40 years in the AFL.

The four-time premiership coach said there would be no great surprises in the style Carlton would play.

"I can categorically tell you the game plan won't change," Malthouse, 59, said.

"It will be defence first, defence second and defence third.

"How you manage the strategies depends on the players you have at your disposal."

Malthouse said Chris Judd would retain the captaincy - if he wanted it.

Malthouse's former team, Collingwood, is also believed to be headed for a tough start to the season with games against this year's finalists contenders North Melbourne, Carlton and Hawthorn in the first three rounds. Essendon looms in Round5 on Anzac Day.

The Herald Sun understands the Magpies will play as many as seven Friday night games as Channel 7 gets bang for its buck with the most powerful club in the land.

The game plan won't change ... it will be defence first, defence second and defence third

In a major change to recent seasons, the Pies are believed to be set for more Sunday afternoon games.

Collingwood is expected to have an away game against Gold Coast to promote football in the area.

The Pies will be striving for another top-four finish, but Malthouse refused to speculate on the Blues.

"I'm not going to put a target on where we will finish but I'm desperate to make the final four because that's where premierships are won," he said.

"We will play football that is capable of winning finals matches."

Malthouse will officially begin at Carlton on November 5 before the club travels to Arizona. He has been doing altitude training to ensure his fitness is at the desired level.

Malthouse said there would be no dramatic changes to the Carlton list before the trade period ended on Friday.

Carlton has little room to move in its salary cap, despite not having reached the top four in the past decade.

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