Thursday, May 29, 2014: The full support of said board

Being a traitor is not an easy life. Even when you arrive at your new home, copping all the flack that comes from those you abandoned, you still need to overcome the sense of distrust that will inevitably come from your new teammates.

It's much easier of course if things are going well, but if they aren't - it's good to have some fellow traitors around to back you up. This might explain why Carlton (and former Collingwood) coach Mick Malthouse is so bitterly upset to see Carlton (and former Collingwood) CEO Greg Swann hanging up his executive tie. "I'm really disappointed that he's going" cried Malthouse, before fawning over "one of the best, if not the best, CEO's I've encountered in the last 20-odd years - he's streets ahead."

That praise follows on from his well known love of Dale Thomas, whom he courted to cross to the Blues at the end of last year. Despite a largely disappointing 2014 season, Malthouse has declared Thomas six weeks ahead in his progress to become a shadow of his former self.

Malthouse wasn't concerned, however, that Swann's departure could be his own career in jeopardy. "You just get on with your job. I'm a servant of the board" grumbled Malthouse, who we presume has the full support of said board.

In the news...
Nick Maxwell has added his name to the oracles who have wrongly predicted a return to form for Travis Cloke. "It's going to turn for him come game day - hopefully it's tomorrow night" he prophesied.

Michael Voss has become the latest in a growing list to ask for a return to State of Origin football. "Rather than doing (International Rules), why not State of Origin" he said. Andrew Demetriou has put the kibosh on the idea.

Sharrod Wellingham has refused to mince his words on the reason he has been dropped from the West Coast 22. "I was in a little bit of a slump and that was due to me being a little bit lazy" he mea-culpa'd.