Carlton coach Michael Malthouse has talked of his and the team’s genuine anticipation for the start of the 2013 home and away season, in an exclusive interview for the first of twelve episodes of The Blue Print for 2013.

Malthouse, the three-time Premiership coach and former premiership player, talked of “the “touch of excitement” he felt personally in the wake of his appointment as Carlton Senior Coach last October, before getting down to the nitty gritty in preparing for the season proper.

“The interesting thing about Round 1 is that we’ve had six months to think about it,” Malthouse said.

“We’ve watched every detail we possibly can of our opponent and yet we’re only going to get seven or eight days for our next opponent. Mind you, we’ve done a lot on each of the sides . . . but you get to the saturation point where you say ‘Bring the game on’ . . . and our boys are ready to play football.”

In an extensive interview involving The Blue Print co-hosts – Carlton premiership captain Mark Maclure and media personality Andrew Maher – Malthouse discussed a series of issues including;

•         what attracted him about Carlton;

•         the team’s final eight prospects;

•         the search for “the striker”;

•         Eddie Betts, Jeff Garlett and the midfield; and

•         his “non-negotiables” as a senior AFL coach

“When I take a job on  take the job on to get the best out of people around me and give them the opportunity to display leadership and ownership and go forward,” Malthouse said.

“I’m not interested in going back. The past is the past . . . (and) there’s so much life in front of us.”

The Blue Print streams live every fortnight through the 2013 home and away season.