> Watch Mick Malthouse address the media after the winCOLLINGWOOD coach Mick Malthouse believes the Magpies' midfield will be able to prosper despite the sudden departure of assistant coach Brad Scott.
Scott departed the Lexus Centre last week after accepting the senior coaching position at North Melbourne, which he will commence at the conclusion of this season.
Malthouse said while the Pies recognised the challenge of covering Scott at this late stage of the year, he was confident the side would be able to move through it.
"That hole, we can't just turn our toes up. I said to [midfielders] Shane O'Bree and Dane Swan and Scott Pendlebury, nothing is really going to change much in terms of strategies, because we are not locked in to one single system week in, week out," he said.
"We analyse the opposition, and we change our course of mid zones as well as who goes in there, as we did today [against the Sydney Swans].
"That will still come from me, and it will go to in this case, Blake Caracella, and those three blokes that spend the most time in there."
Malthouse said the Kangaroos had made a good decision in offering Scott his first senior coaching role.
"Number one, I think North Melbourne has got themselves a very, very good decent kid. He's a delight, quite frankly," he said.
"He's very knowledgeable, he's hard, and he's got a soft spot when it needs to be.
"Him and [Gold Coast coach and former Collingwood assistant] Guy McKenna are very similar. Different personalities, but very similar in their approach to the game. I think both will be excellent."
