Malthouse has previously told the Tigers he would not attend the function while serving as a senior coach at a rival club, but with Carlton not featuring in September he has decided to attend the night run by former Richmond president Ian Wilson.

Mike Perry, the president of the Tigers' past players association and a 1967 premiership player, said Malthouse was expected to attend.

"We believe he will be fronting," Perry said.

"He has had commitments and that sort of stuff on in the past. He is a terrific bloke. A couple of the boys have talked him into it.

"Mick has had legitimate reasons. It will be very good to see him and all the boys will welcome him. He was a serious larrikin when he was back at Richmond."

Malthouse previously said he remains a Tiger at heart because he played in the club's 1980 premiership.

Perry said the bonds forged from playing in premierships meant the players were inextricably linked.

"He is a part of us. His old heart is still at Richmond," Perry said.

"It all comes home to roost - you come back to your roots."

This will be the first time the event has gone ahead without coaching great Tom Hafey, who died this year.

Perry said the Tigers' four-time premiership coach, and a father figure to many of the players, would be remembered on the night.

The annual function has also been used to mend relationships through the years.

While he wasn't a premiership player, having missed the 1967 premiership through suspension, former president Neville Crowe was invited along years ago in a bid to mend his relationship with club legend Kevin Bartlett. The pair had fallen out when Crowe was part of the administration that sacked Bartlett as coach in 1991.

Perry said Bartlett and another club great, Kevin Sheedy, would again attend on Wednesday night.