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Someone pass the popcorn!!
MELBOURNE, July 21 AAP - The feud between Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse and the AFL intensified today when league boss Andrew Demetriou labelled comments by Malthouse as "boring" and "offensive."
Demetriou said it was likely Malthouse was criticising the AFL to divert attention away from the Magpies' disappointing on-field performance in 2004.
And he advised Malthouse to tone down his attack as it was angering AFL officials.
The Magpie coach has been unrelenting in his comments on the league, claiming that operations manager Adrian Anderson has no understanding of the pressure AFL coaches must endure.
He also said Anderson should give up playing amateur football on Saturdays and devote all his time to attending AFL games.
Malthouse invited Anderson to spend a match day in the coach's box with he and his staff, but claimed there was no way Anderson would accept the invitation.
Demetriou today described Malthouse's remarks as "nonsensical" and intimated they were prompted by an ulterior motive.
"Mick's got his views, I don't know what they mean, they've sort of become quite boring anyway," Demetriou told 3AW.
Demetriou said he also regarded the verbal barrage as offensive.
"I don't understand those comments - I suspect they've got something to do with how Collingwood's travelling.
"It's a good diversion, it's a nice tactic. Sounds interesting to me," he said.
Demetriou said Anderson, who succeeded him as operations manager, was quite capable of playing sport as well as doing his job.
"I think it's a nonsensical comment. Adrian Anderson knows pressure very well, particularly with his last job when he was on call 24 hours a day," Demetriou said.
"I don't know what that means, I don't know where he's coming from and I'm sure that some of his comments aren't going down very well at AFL House.
"I'm not sure what he's carrying on about, I mean I've got two or three executives who play footy on the weekends because they want to understand what grass roots football is about, Demetriou said.
"They're into fund-raising at their club, they love playing and it certainly doesn't hinder their performance.
"It's not unusual for people to do more than one thing in their occupation.
"I'm chairman of a public company and I'm CEO of the AFL."
Demetriou said it was likely Malthouse was criticising the AFL to divert attention away from the Magpies' disappointing on-field performance in 2004.
And he advised Malthouse to tone down his attack as it was angering AFL officials.
The Magpie coach has been unrelenting in his comments on the league, claiming that operations manager Adrian Anderson has no understanding of the pressure AFL coaches must endure.
He also said Anderson should give up playing amateur football on Saturdays and devote all his time to attending AFL games.
Malthouse invited Anderson to spend a match day in the coach's box with he and his staff, but claimed there was no way Anderson would accept the invitation.
Demetriou today described Malthouse's remarks as "nonsensical" and intimated they were prompted by an ulterior motive.
"Mick's got his views, I don't know what they mean, they've sort of become quite boring anyway," Demetriou told 3AW.
Demetriou said he also regarded the verbal barrage as offensive.
"I don't understand those comments - I suspect they've got something to do with how Collingwood's travelling.
"It's a good diversion, it's a nice tactic. Sounds interesting to me," he said.
Demetriou said Anderson, who succeeded him as operations manager, was quite capable of playing sport as well as doing his job.
"I think it's a nonsensical comment. Adrian Anderson knows pressure very well, particularly with his last job when he was on call 24 hours a day," Demetriou said.
"I don't know what that means, I don't know where he's coming from and I'm sure that some of his comments aren't going down very well at AFL House.
"I'm not sure what he's carrying on about, I mean I've got two or three executives who play footy on the weekends because they want to understand what grass roots football is about, Demetriou said.
"They're into fund-raising at their club, they love playing and it certainly doesn't hinder their performance.
"It's not unusual for people to do more than one thing in their occupation.
"I'm chairman of a public company and I'm CEO of the AFL."