Mick Malthouse will not hand Carlton coaching duties to his assistants in the NAB Cup Carlton coach Mick Malthouse will steer his side in the NAB Cup. MICK Malthouse will look to make an immediate impression on Carlton players by taking charge of all of the Blues' NAB Cup matches. In the second half of his time as coach of Collingwood, Malthouse allowed his assistant coaches to take charge on match day during the pre-season series. But Carlton football operations manager Andrew McKay confirmed that Malthouse wanted to ensure his message was clear from the start. "This is a different situation (as to when he was at Collingwood)," McKay said. Summer Barometer: See how the Blues are shaping up I think his assistants are going to do the internal trial games (this year), and Mick will be doing the NAB Cup. He wants to make sure the messages are the way he wants them to be delivered and wants to make sure the players understand that. Coach Mick Malthouse lays down the law at Carlton training yesterday. Picture: Norm Oorloff Source: Herald Sun The internal games are different. He needs to be looking at both teams in those games, so it makes sense for the assistant coaches to coach in them. McKay said Malthouse's approach had made an impact on the players ahead of NAB Cup games against Sydney and Greater Western Sydney at Blacktown on February 24. "Mick is a positive person and that has rubbed off on the players," he said. McKay said the Blues were better placed in terms of fitness compared to last year.