Two of the AFL’s most experienced coaches, Kevin Sheedy and John Worsfold, believe fellow old stager Mick Malthouse can make a successful return to the hot seat if Carlton move on Brett Ratten.

Malthouse is considered the favourite to succeed Ratten, if the Blues’ board make him the scapegoat for last weekend’s shock loss to Gold Coast which ended their finals chances.

Malthouse has spent 2012 working in the media after being replaced by Nathan Buckley as Collingwood coach.

Sheedy, who sits behind only Jock McHale and Malthouse on the list of most AFL games as a coach, said his old sparring partner still had what it took to succeed at the top level.

“I think Mick’s a terrific coach,” said Sheedy after being reappointed as Greater Western Sydney coach on Tuesday.

“Anyone that can hang around for 16 years without a premiership and then win one is a genius, an absolute genius.

“And to get one at Collingwood, that’s even harder. History will tell you that.”

Worsfold said he felt for Ratten, who is contracted with the Blues until the end of the 2013 season.

“Obviously all coaches have tough patches,” said Worsfold, who cut his teeth as a Carlton assistant coach before taking on the top job at West Coast in 2002.

“Ratts was under the heat two months ago and came out of it really strongly.

“He got the team up and going really well.

“They’ve had one slip-up on the weekend and all that really good work they were doing was undone.

“So it just puts the heat back on him.”

But when asked if Malthouse could still be a top-line AFL coach, Worsfold said: “Yeah I think so, for sure.”

Malthouse, 58, has yet to confirm whether he wants to return to coaching.

But he said on Monday that if he were to do so, it would almost certainly have to happen next year or not at all.