Malthouse’s achievement means three Roosters all-time greats will hold major records in the sport.

He joins VFL/AFL goalkicking record-holder Tony Lockett, who, like Malthouse, launched his playing career at North Ballarat back in its Ballarat Football League days, and Gerard FitzGerald, who linked up with the Roosters as coach in their formative VFL years and has gone on to be set a  VFA/VFL coaching games record.

All three are set to retain these records for many years to come.

How they achieved the records:

Mick Malthouse (coached at Footscray, West Coast Eagles, Collingwood and Carlton): passes Collingwood’s Jock McHale’s 714-game mark.

Tony Lockett (St Kilda and Sydney Swans): broke the all-time VFL/AFL record with his 1300th goal, passing Gordon Coventry’s record of 1299.

Gerard FitzGerald: passed previous record-holder Bill Faul last year when he coached his 314th senior VFL game. He has coached North Ballarat (1997-2002), Springvale (2003), Port Melbourne (2004) and North Ballarat again since 2007.

COACHING: Malthouse 714 games (will be his 715th on Friday night): next highest Jock McHale 714, Kevin Sheedy (Essendon, GWS Giants) 678, Allan Jeans (St Kilda, Hawthorn, Richmond) 575, Tom Hafey (Richmond, Collingwood, Geelong, Sydney) 522. 

Most among exisiting coaches: Rodney Eade (Sydney, Western Bulldogs, Gold Coast) 318, Alistair Clarkson (Hawthorn) 237, Paul Roos (Sydney, Melbourne) 228

Lockett 1360 goals; next best Gordon Coventry 1299, Jason Dunstall (Hawthorn) 1254, Doug Wade (Geelong, North Melbourne) 1057, Gary Ablett senior (Hawthorn, Geelong) 1030. 

Leading goalkickers among existing players: Lance Franlkin (Hawthorn, Sydney) 672, Matthew Pavlich (Fremantle) 638, Nick Riewoldt (St Kilda) 622

VFA/VFL COACHING: FitzGerald 328 games: next highest Bill Faul 314

david.brehaut@fairfaxmedia.com.au