What a legend ... Michael Malthouse to pass Kevin Sheedy in second spot on most games coached in VFL/AFL history

Collingwood coach Michael Malthouse will coach his 636th match as the Flagpies do battle with the Western Bulldogs in a qualifying final at the MCG on Saturday night.

It's been an amazing journey since Malthouse made his coaching debut for then Footscray back in 1984.

Malthouse will pass Essendon legend Kevin Sheedy as he moves into second spot on the list of most games coached in the history of the game.

The leading five coaches in the game’s history are Jock McHale (714 games with Collingwood), Kevin Sheedy (635 games with Essendon), Michael Malthouse (635 games with Footscray, West Coast and Collingwood), Allan Jeans (575 games with St Kilda, Hawthorn and Richmond) and Tom Hafey (522 games with Richmond, Collingwood, Geelong and Sydney).

Malthouse will begin his 18th finals series (as a coach with Footscray, West Coast and now Collingwood).

This will take him into outright third spot in the history of the game, behind only Jock McHale and Kevin Sheedy. The leading coaches in the game’s history are Jock McHale (27 finals series with Collingwood between 1912-50), Kevin Sheedy (19 series with Essendon between 1981-2007), Allan Jeans (17 series with St Kilda, Hawthorn and Richmond between 1961-92), Michael Malthouse (17 series with Footscray, West Coast and Collingwood since 1985) and Dick Reynolds (16 series with Essendon between 1939-60).
 

It's all happening for Malthouse.

He will be coaching his 44th final.

 This will take him into outright second spot in the history of the game, behind only Jock McHale. The leading coaches in the game’s history are Jock McHale (59 finals with Collingwood), Kevin Sheedy (43 finals with Essendon), Michael Malthouse (43 finals with Footscray, West Coast and Collingwood), Tom Hafey (42 finals with Richmond, Collingwood and the Sydney Swans) and Allan Jeans (41 finals with St Kilda and Hawthorn).

 Meanwhile, should Hayden Kennedy be selected to umpire one of this weekend’s matches, he will officiate in his 39th final and equal the all-time record established by Jack Elder.

The leading five umpires in the game’s history are Jack Elder (39 finals), Hayden Kennedy (38 finals), Bryan Sheehan (37 finals), Darren Goldspink (37 finals) and Brett Allen (37 finals).

Other interesting statistics are that the Western Bulldogs have participated in 15 finals series since their last premiership in 1954.

This is the longest active streak in the game and the fifth-longest in the game’s history.

The longest streaks of playing in a finals series, without claiming a premiership, are Collingwood (21 series between 1959-89), Geelong Cats (20 series between 1964-2005), Carlton (16 series between 1916-36) and South Melbourne / Sydney Swans (16 series between 1934-2004) and the Western Bulldogs (15 series since 1956).
 

And St Kilda have participated in 14 finals series since their last premiership in 1966.

As per the list above, this ranks as the sixth-longest streak in the game’s history.