The two men responsible for Collngwood's recent success dig to the core of what success - in sport and life in general - is all about in an inspirational book that transcends Australian Football.
At the end of 2000, David Buttifant joined Coach Mick Malthouse as Head of Conditioning at the Collingwood Football Club. A decade later the pair have shared many events together, some of which have been life-changing.
Here this talented team reveals the secrets of preparing football sides and athletes in general as they share what they've learnt. These are processes where boys become men and where profound life lessons are taught which transcend the sport world. As Christi Malthouse notes in her foreword along the way Mick and David 'chronicle the defining moments in their professional and personal lives; the discoveries made in those moments and the lessons learnt. Here they pass them on to you: the leader, the manager, the mentor, the parent and the mate.'
Throughout the book we see their profound insights complemented by those of scores of others -- players, coaches, philosophers, politicians and poets, past and present -- who bare their souls as they strive not just for improved performance, but that mysterious spiritual quality that transforms a collection of good individuals into a champion team.
The Ox is Slow but the Earth is Patient is not just another sport book. If you have an open mind and heart and you're interested in success, or in simply improving yourself in any endeavour at all, this inspirational book will change you forever.
Mick Malthouse, a father of four, began life in the country town of Wendouree, Ballarat. Mick's background was very modest and his father suffered from a debilitating illness when Mick was a young boy. Although young and living with his mother and his sister, the responsibility of 'man of the house' was thrust upon him. As all young men do, he battled with the vagaries of youth, but soon found his niche and began to play football with North Ballarat. From here he was recruited to the then VFL team St. Kilda and went on to play with Richmond for several years where he played in the 1980 Premiership Team.
Following his retirement from playing, he commenced his coaching career at Footscray. Australian Rules football was developing across the country and Mick was soon headhunted and appointed senior coach of the recently established AFL team, the West Coast Eagles. Mick was successful while in WA, leading his players to two AFL Premierships in his ten-year tenure. After his proven succe