Collingwood gun recruit Darren Jolly says coach Mick Malthouse is not the intense character he seems from outside the AFL club.

The ex-Sydney ruckman said the gruff public persona of the 57-year-old, who is in his 27th season at the helm of a VFL/AFL club, was misleading.

"Before I came to the club, obviously I saw Mick as everyone else saw him on the telly, he's intense and I thought he was an intense sort of guy," Jolly told the Nine Network on Sunday.

"But since knowing him and being at the club, he's completely different to what I thought he was.

"He's a very down-to-earth kind of guy and he gets his message across really, really well.

"He speaks to the playing group and obviously the young blokes, he's very approachable and leads the club excellently."

Malthouse, who will hand the Collingwood reins to assistant Nathan Buckley at the end of next season, will be seeking his third premiership from six grand finals as a coach against St Kilda on Saturday.

Jolly, whose 2005 flag with the Swans makes him the only premiership player on the Magpies list, said he had never experienced football like Collingwood produced to thrash Geelong on Friday night.

"The first half on the weekend was the best thing I've ever seen and been involved with, it was unbelievable," he said.

The 28-year-old said he had taken it upon himself to give his teammates some advice after that victory.

"I brought them together after the game and just mentioned it was a great win, let's enjoy it and take it on board," Jolly said.

"Enjoy the week and really take on board what's about to happen and get your head around a grand final, because we're in one and hopefully we'll win it."

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