Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse says it would be "grossly unfair" for his assistant Guy McKenna to miss out on the Gold Coast job in the franchise's inaugural AFL season.

McKenna was on Wednesday appointed to coach the franchise in its first two years, which will be spent in the Victorian under-18 competition in 2009 and the VFL in 2010.

However, he must earn the right to win another contract and lead the club in its first season in the AFL, in 2011.

Malthouse last month warned any prospective coach to sign with the Gold Coast for a minimum three years, to ensure they were given a guaranteed chance to coach in the national competition.

He said he understood why McKenna took the risk of signing a two-year deal, so long as he was not leapfrogged by a higher-profile coach after developing the playing list.

"The opportunity to get your foot in the door is so important," Malthouse said of McKenna, who has been desperate to earn a senior coaching role.

"He's willing to back himself that he won't become a 2IC.

"That's going to be the biggest factor two years down the track - does he become a 2IC to someone who is maybe a better name or younger ... after he does all the hard yakka and then finds himself handing the side over?

"That would be grossly unfair."

Malthouse was delighted for McKenna, who he coached as a player for a decade at West Coast and then worked with for five years as an assistant coach at Collingwood.

Malthouse said McKenna, who will serve out his contract at the Magpies before he heads north, said his protege understood the game and had the ability to impart his natural footballing ability on to young players.

"He's an outstanding young bloke and I sincerely hope that he has the chance to coach an AFL side," he said.

"I'm sure he'll do a terrific job in the next two seasons and then it's up to the powers that be."

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