COACHING great Mick Malthouse says the AFL has a problem with Hawthorn’s continued domination and fans are bored with the same teams winning premierships every year.

Since 2004 just nine different teams have made it to the Grand Final and the three favourites for this year’s flag — Hawthorn, Geelong and Sydney — have won the past five premierships and nine of the past 11 between them.

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Malthouse was outspoken on a number of topics this morning, saying being dropped this week would “destroy” Travis Cloke and declaring Brisbane coach Justin Leppitsch has to send a message to Pearce Hanley after his antics on Saturday.

Round 18

The three-time premiership coach said the Hawks were again the team to beat this year as they gun for a fourth straight flag — and that’s not good for the game.

“I had an opportunity yesterday to talk to a number of football people and there was almost a hint from them that they don’t go as often as they did because the game is too predictable in regards to Hawthorn winning another one (and) if it’s not them it’s going to be Sydney or Geelong,” Malthouse said on SEN.

Luke Hodge can’t even carry all his premiership cups. Picture: Michael Klein. Source: News Corp Australia

“They’re getting very very confused and frustrated that the competition is supposedly even yet we just keep seeing the same names.

“It was a very interesting conversation and I half suspect it may have dealt me a little more of an insight into the mindset of people who just say, ‘Look, I’m not going to go to games any more because they’re just so predictable and my side’s got no hope of winning (a premiership)’.

“We’ve got a lot of work to do because this year the (top) eight sides will probably win 14 games and Hawthorn will probably be in the top four and given every chance to win.”

Malthouse also made a spirited defence of Cloke, delivering a whack to Jesse White in the process. One of Cloke or White is likely to be axed this week as Darcy Moore returns from injury.

“I’m not a Jesse White fan, I think that the tougher the game gets and against the better sides Jesse seems to go missing.

“I think it would destroy Travis, it would destroy any confidence he’s got whatsoever if he got dropped.

“I’d have Travis — and I’m being a bit biased there, it’s a bloke that I’ve coached, I know his capabilities, I know his heart, I know he bleeds black and white and I think it would be a sad message to the football world to say this is the way we’re going and Travis is not part of it.”

Travis Cloke signs an autograph at a clinic on Tuesday. Picture: Mark Stewart Source: News Corp Australia

Malthouse said he couldn’t believe Hanley’s actions against Richmond when he gave away a free kick then a 50m penalty and didn’t man the mark as he continued arguing with umpires.

“It looked absolutely damning ... that kid’s got to come to grips (with the fact) that he’s playing a team sport.

“I’ve coached against the Irish four times and I’ve never seen any Irish kid betray the same sort of disregard for his team or his teammates as I did at the weekend.”

And he also took aim at AFL boss Gillon McLachlan inviting coaches to dinner at his Prahrah mansion last night to discuss the state of the game, saying it sent a message to non-Melbourne coaches who couldn’t attend.

“You cannot have just a Victorian bunch of coaches.

“Gil has opened up his home, as has his wife, and it’s just terrific, however Gil is the CEO of the AFL, not Melbourne football.”

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2016 PREMIERSHIP ODDS

$3.75 Geelong

$5.50 Hawthorn

$6 Sydney

$6 GWS Giants

$6.40 Adelaide

$13 North Melbourne

$13 West Coast

Odds: TAB

GRAND FINALS

2015 Hawthorn d West Coast

2014 Hawthorn d Sydney

2013 Hawthorn d Fremantle

2012 Sydney d Hawthorn

2011 Geelong d Collingwood

2010 Collingwood d St Kilda

2009 Geelong d St Kilda

2008 Hawthorn d Geelong

2007 Geelong d Port Adelaide

2006 West Coast d Sydney

2005 Sydney d West Coast

Will we see another Hawthorn v Geelong Grand Final this year? Source: News Limited