Here’s a wrap-up of where the Blues are making the news this week:
Blues, Magpies could host Malthouse milestone match
The Age, Jon Pierik
An already storied club rivalry could be set for another grand chapter with Collingwood firmly in the mix as Mick Malthouse's opponent when he breaks Jock McHale's record for most games as an VFL-AFL coach in round five next season.
Malthouse, set to finish the season with 710 matches to his credit, has been given unprecedented power by AFL chiefs to pick which team Carlton will face at the MCG when he coaches his 715th - and record-breaking - match.
It's believed he will choose a club he has a strong affiliation with, although Richmond, where he was a 1980 premiership player, has been ruled out because the Tigers will open the season against the Blues.
Malthouse says game needs more interchange players
The Age, Ashley Porter
Carlton coach Mick Malthouse has revived his argument from 1985 that the game needs as many as six interchange players.
Without taking anything from Port Adelaide's record 103-point win at Adelaide Oval on Friday - he believes it was outstanding and will "worry the life out of a lot of sides" in the finals - he indicated the demands on the players had become far too great.
It follows Carlton captain Marc Murphy being taken to Royal Adelaide Hospital - and cleared of serious concern after X-rays - suffering concussion after colliding with Port's Cam O'Shea during the second quarter and smashing his head on the ground.
Mick Malthouse v Mark Stevens rivalry just one of great journalist stoushes in world sport
Herald Sun, Al Paton
THE cold war between Carlton coach Mick Malthouse and Channel 7 reporter Mark Stevens shows no signs of thawing.
The pair faced off again on Friday night in another frosty press conference after the Blues were hammered by Port Adelaide.
Malthouse answered Stevens’ opener with “is that a question?” then laughed as Stevens tried to make a point about concussed Carlton captain Marc Murphy.
It came days after Stevens said Malthouse should “look me in the eyes” at post-match press conferences.
Carlton takes cautious approach after Marc Murphy knocked out in heavy loss to Port Adelaide
Herald Sun, Bruce Matthews
CARLTON is unsure whether Marc Murphy will lead for the team’s last game of the season against Essendon at the MCG next Saturday.
While Murphy escaped structural damage from a heavy head blow in Adelaide, he will be closely monitored during the Blues recovery over the next couple of days.
“Obviously, they will have the concussion tests and we’re in the hands of the medical people and Marc. So, we’ll have to wait and see,’’ Blues coaching and development director Rob Wiley said.
