If what happened at last night’s Women of Carlton function is anything to go by, then “The Mick Factor” is truly a force to be reckoned with.

The club’s newly-appointed Senior Coach Mick Malthouse and the latest on-field acquisitions were mobbed by more than 150 members of the Women of Carlton coterie group as they gathered in the George Harris Function Room for the much-anticipated “What’s In Store” function at Visy Park.

Along with the 2012 national draftees Troy Menzel, Tom Temay, Nicholas Graham and (rookie) Jaryd Cachia, Malthouse was on hand for the lively meet and greet, and only too willing to sign autographs and pose for happy snaps.

Also in the house was Malthouse’s wife Nanette, Lachie Henderson’s mother ‘Vonnie’, Shaun Hampson’s parents Dee and Tom, and the Swanns Greg and Leonie. They were all welcomed by Women of Carlton President Judy Mullen (whose mother Vivienne Kerr is the club’s No.1 female ticketholder and was also in attendance) and members of the committee including Helen Sykes, the wife of the three-time Premiership ruckman Mike Fitzpatrick.

Having survived the initial onslaught, Malthouse effectively took on the role of Master of Ceremonies, in interviewing each of the new Carlton recruits then taking questions from the floor and rewarding the source of the best question with a copy of his recently-released biography Malthouse – A Football Life.

Established in 2003, the Women of Carlton serves as an active coterie group for female supporters by way of social and networking activities convened throughout the year.

Aside from the functions it convenes, the Women of Carlton also aligns with two players through the Guernsey Sponsorship program and delegates a Player Ambassador of the Year Award to the individual who has displayed a high level of achievement both on and off the field.