COLLINGWOOD coach Mick Malthouse says while his prolonged contract discussions earlier this year didn't take their toll on him directly, he saw signs it was affecting those around him - including his players.

Malthouse re-signed with the Magpies in July, the deal ensuring he will continue as senior coach until the end of 2011.

But mid-season the coach's future beyond 2009 was still up in the air, as neither Collingwood nor Malthouse seemed certain or were prepared to publicly commit to what lay ahead.

At times, the uncertainty seemed to grate on the veteran coach, and in an exclusive interview with afl.com.au Malthouse admitted the process took longer than he would have liked.

"It was unnecessary. Others will argue the case it wasn't," he said.

"I had several delegations of players come in from time to time and basically ask 'When's it going to be settled?' and 'What's going to happen?' because they felt [it was] a distraction."

At the time of the contract renewal, the Magpies were getting their season back on track and steaming towards the top four.

Malthouse said throughout the process his primary objective remained ensuring his players stayed focused.

"That was the first and foremost thing in my mind, that no matter how long the club was going to take on this … we couldn't afford it to have an effect when it had little or nothing to do with them," he said.

"And we had to make sure that was the case. It's not something that they could move, they could change or whatever; it was so important that they stay focused on their game."

Asked whether he found it distracting, Malthouse replied: "A distraction for my family, certainly.

"I live on a day-to-day basis and what turns out tomorrow, turns out. I don't get bitter on it, I don't get disappointed on it; I just live on it. That next day, [if] you wake up and you haven't had a phone call, you're coaching.

Malthouse, who turned 56 this year, has coached Collingwood to finals the past four seasons. And he still thinks he is coaching as well as ever.

"Well, I think I am," he said.

"Is Bart Cummings training as well as ever, at 82? There was a suggestion by some people that, at 55, I was too old."