Brett Ratten Biography

Hawthorn head of coaching performance and development, Brett Ratten, is heading to the United Kingdom, where he will spend time inside a football club in Wales that has risen from obscurity to the Hollywood club in the past few years.

Wrexham AFC have risen from the fifth tier of English football to now sit second in League One following back-to-back promotions, after being purchased by famous actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney in 2020.

Ratten will spend time sitting in meetings with coaches and officials at the Welsh club ahead of a game, as well as visiting Cardiff City, which plays in the Championship – the second division – and Wales Rugby.

After a tumultuous 12 months that saw him depart St Kilda and North Melbourne, Brett Ratten will return to Hawthorn as the club’s head of coaching performance and development in 2024.

"We're thrilled to bring someone of Brett’s calibre into our program. He will play a key role in mentoring and developing our coaching staff," Hawthorn football boss Rob McCartney said.

"With his experience, expertise, and immense football IQ, we believe Brett will make an immediate impact both on and off the field."

After taking over North Melbourne's coaching reins mid-season, Brett Ratten announces he will leave the club in search of a new challenge.

"When I accepted the role at North Melbourne, my plan was to come in and help the club in any way I could for 12 months," Ratten said.

"While the role ended up different to the one I initially took on, I've loved my time here. Stepping in as interim coach gave me the opportunity to say goodbye to senior coaching which is something I'm grateful for."

Brett Ratten hits back at criticism by Nick Riewoldt of his time as head coach of St Kilda.

"I can promise you now, the standards in that joint (St Kilda) over the last however long have been sub-par," Riewoldt said.

Ratten, however, indicated that Riewoldt would not have known how the club functioned during that period.

"The only time he (Riewoldt) came was for free physio, that's the only time he was at the club, so I don't know where he saw those standards," Ratten said.

"What can happen at footy clubs, and in life, is second-hand information can be distributed in the way (people) want. That's his opinion, I can't change it."

Alastair Clarkson will begin his return to North Melbourne next week after six weeks away from the club.

Clarkson will ease back into the role for about a month, while caretaker coach Brett Ratten continues to guide the Roos' senior men's program.

"We are pleased that Alastair has been able to get the support he needs to return to the club and work towards doing what he loves most and does best – coach the team," North president Sonja Hood said.

"We’ve had some really good dialogue with Alastair and we’re all comfortable he’s ready to make a return into the football department ahead of getting back in the senior coach’s chair later this season."

Alastair Clarkson looks set to return to coaching in a part-time capacity before taking full control before the end of the season.

Brett Ratten, installed as Clarkson's interim replacement after he stood himself down after round nine, will coach North Melbourne in Saturday's round 16 match against Adelaide, and is likely to continue in that capacity until at least round 18.

Kangaroos caretaker coach Brett Ratten says he is reluctant to contact Alastair Clarkson during the under-pressure mentor's time away from North Melbourne.

"I want him just to forget about footy. And I just want him to take a breath, go for walks, do things where he's not consumed by the game and clear his mind and his wellbeing," Ratten said.

Brett Ratten will temporarily replace Alastair Clarkson as coach of North Melbourne while the latter takes leave from the club.

Brett Ratten joins North Melbourne as a part-time assistant coach.

“Brett is a highly regarded operator who has been part of premiership success during his time at Hawthorn. His vast coaching experience will be a huge asset for our club,” North's general manager of football Todd Viney said.

St Kilda assistant coach Brendon Lade will take the reins in the box this week against Gold Coast at Marvel Stadium after head coach Brett Ratten tested positive for COVID.

"He's a little bit frustrated he won't be there, but he will have behind goals (video), he'll have broadcast vision, I'm sure he'll have stats running and he'll have a line to the box," Lade said about Ratten's situation.

"He'll see some things a little bit differently and convey that to us. Hopefully I can have the same impact he's had."

Brett Ratten opens up on his son Cooper's tragic death, and how he's learning to live with loss.

"Something that was pretty special was Cooper's 21st," he said.

"It gets me a bit upset, but at the footy club, the players got around me and said, 'We know it's a special day but a very hard day for you'. Then they just all came up and gave us a cuddle. It was awesome, it was so good.

"I'll never get over Cooper's tragedy, never, but I'm trying to learn to live with it."

Brett Ratten is officially appointed as coach of St Kilda.

"To get back in that (head coach) chair that I have been trying to get back to for a long time, it has been seven years," Ratten said.

"But I'm really excited about our list and where the club is heading and it's a great opportunity for me.

"We need to get more success at this footy club. And when pre-season starts we will be pushing really hard as a coaching group and also as a playing list to make sure that we do that."

Almost seven years after he coached his last AFL game, Brett Ratten guides St Kilda to an impressive 27-point victory over the Bulldogs in his first match as the club's caretaker boss.

"It's pretty much the same. I'm just seven years older, with a few more greys and a bit more weight," Ratten said of his return to coaching.

"It's interesting. If you never challenge yourself to go to the top or put yourself in an awkward position – whether you're a player or a coach – you can never try to succeed.

"You might fail in the journey, but to put yourself out there … we've got to do that to try and have success as a person, as a player or as a club.

"From that point of view, I've really enjoyed the challenge. Whether we won or lost today, it was very enjoyable."

St Kilda caretaker Brett Ratten has made his pitch to return to senior coaching ranks and is refusing to rule out a move back to Carlton.

"I'm probably not as emotional," Ratten said on Thursday when asked how he had changed since coaching at Carlton.

"When you're a younger coach – and probably sometimes being at the club that you played for, I probably got caught up a little bit in being there as well.

"I've had a lot go on in my life since that period and maybe I look at life a lot different too. I have a laugh and enjoy it because there's some things that you can change and there's some things that you actually can't change.

"When you're in a senior coaching role you're probably trying to do the right thing by fixing everything but sometimes, you just can't do that."

Brett Ratten is appointed as caretaker coach of St Kilda following the resignation of Alan Richardson.

Brett Ratten will join St Kilda to serve as senior coach Alan Richardson's right-hand man once he finishes his duties as assistant coach at Hawthorn.

"Brett is one of the most experienced assistant coaches in the game and we look forward to the impact he can have on our football program," St Kilda football boss Simon Lethlean said.

"He is highly regarded across the football industry, and as midfield coach at the Hawks, was a key driver in their premiership success."

Brett Ratten will complete his assistant coaching duties at Hawthorn this season before potentially moving to a rival club in 2019.

"His infallible work ethic and values as a coach and person have made Brett a much-loved figure at our club among players, staff and supporters," Hawthorn's football boss Graham Wright said.

"Hawthorn is incredibly grateful for what Brett and his family have given to the club over six years and he remains fully committed to Hawthorn for the remainder of our 2018 campaign."

Brett Ratten says he could be interested in being a senior coach again if the right opportunity presented itself.

"Never say never," Ratten said.

"I've been involved in footy for a long time and as you get older, you see things a little bit different and I've gone through a lot in my last couple of years personally (Ratten's son Cooper died in a car accident in 2015).

"It would have to be the right fit. I wouldn't do it just for the sake (of it), just with the scrutiny and what happens to your family as well.

"It puts a lot of pressure on everybody – just not you personally. I'm up for the challenge, but only if it's the right fit."

Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson says speculation linking Hawthorn assistant coach Brett Ratten to a senior coaching return is "disrespectful".

Ratten has been mooted as a possible successor for under-pressure Brisbane Lions coach Justin Leppitsch, whose position will come under review at the end of a disastrous season.

"I think it's a bit disrespectful to even think about where he (Ratten) might be going to or what he's going to be doing," Clarkson said.

"He needs to assess his own situation, but there's not a coaching vacancy at this point of time.

"I don't think it's fair that anyone speculates one way or the other what's going to happen."

Hawthorn assistant coach Brett Ratten has returned to work after the tragic death of his son Cooper, and will take his place in the coach's box for Saturday's clash with the Brisbane Lions.

"It's good for him to get back into some sort of routine, and they're very, very sad circumstances but at some point in time it's really good for him and his family that he gets back into the fold of a footy club," coach Alastair Clarkson said.

"There's no better environment than a footy club to get yourself back into the swing of things."

Brett Ratten has farewelled his teenage son Cooper at a funeral attended by nearly 1000 mourners.

"If only they had asked me, if I would take your place, I would have done so willingly," Ratten said through tears as he read from a poem.

Hawthorn has given assistant coach Brett Ratten indefinite leave from the club as he deals with the tragic death of his son Cooper.

Brett Ratten's son tragically dies in a car crash and police say it's a miracle that two other youths survived.

Ringwood teenager Cooper Ratten, 16, was thrown from the back seat of the car after it veered off the road and rolled at Yarra Glen, northeast of Melbourne, just after 3am on Sunday.

He suffered life-threatening injuries and died on the way to hospital.

Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson downplays Brett Ratten's first meeting with his former club Carlton as assistant coach of the Hawks.

"He's a great footy person, both as a player and a coach, and we're fortunate to have him on our side at the moment, but its more about us as a club against their whole club and hopefully, we get the job done tomorrow night," Clarkson said.

Former Carlton coach Brett Ratten has joined Hawthorn as an assistant coach.

"I really respect how they play the game and I see this as a great opportunity for me and one I'm really looking forward to," Ratten said.

"[Ratten] has impressive credentials as a coach and is a quality person, and I'm sure he will complement our team of coaches well," Hawks head coach Alastair Clarkson said about Ratten's appointment.

Brett Ratten pulls out of the race to be the Power's next head coach as Gold Coast confirms that they have approached both Matthew Primus and Brett Ratten to fill a role at the Suns as senior assistant coach.

"We are committed to expanding our coaching panel for the 2013 season," a Suns' spokesman said.

"Matthew and Brett both have senior coaching experience and we believe have a significant amount to offer our club should we be in a position to secure either of them."

Port Adelaide chief executive Keith Thomas confirms Ratten's decision to withdraw his interest in becoming the Power's next senior coach.

"We respect Brett's decision,'' said Thomas.

"We are comfortable with Brett's decision as we work through the field to find the best candidate.''

Port Adelaide club great Warren Tredrea says Brett Ratten withdrew from running to be the Power's next head coach due to a lack of interest from the club.

"My understanding is he (Ratten) did a presentation that may not have been so impressive,'' Tredrea said.

"So he is sitting there thinking 'well, I'm getting out of the race before I'm seen as sorry, you're not good enough'."

Brett Ratten says he is keen on the Port Adelaide head coaching job.

"I've spoken to Craig Bradley a lot about Port Adelaide and he's one that's been there and has a lot of contact or an interest at that football club," Ratten told 3AW radio.

"I spoke to him really about the mechanics of the club and things like that. It would be really exciting to take on someone like Port Adelaide and be involved in that football club."

Brett Ratten will meet with Port Adelaide next week to see if he would be a good fit for the vacant head coaching role.

"I'm keen to have a talk and see what's going on at the football club and maybe put a plan in place," Ratten told SEN radio.

"It goes both ways. It can't be me saying 'I want to do this' and them saying something else. We have to be on the same page before we even get down that path."

Brett Ratten finishes his coaching career at Carlton with a loss to St Kilda and says he deliberately avoided greeting the fans at the end of the game to thank them for their support.

"I'm just a passing piece of history at the football club," he said during his press conference.

"I really appreciated the applause before the game, at quarter-time, at three-quarter time, but at the end of the game the curtain was drawn on my coaching at Carlton."

Heath Scotland says Carlton players feel responsible for Brett Ratten losing his job as coach after the shock loss to the Suns.

"It's disappointing for everybody. I believe we're a good side that had a chance to be playing finals, but we've thrown away [that] opportunity and a man's lost his job because of it," Scotland said.

"We haven't sat down and had a formal chat about it, but you speak amongst each other and everyone's feeling like crap. It's a horrible situation."

Carlton sacks Brett Ratten, as president Stephen Kernahan explains the anguish surrounding the club's 'harsh' decision.

"The club has been ruthless in its quest for success and that's one of its great strengths as a footy club," Kernahan said.

"At the end of the day we didn't play finals and that was our objective."

Ratten says he will coach out the year in the Blues' final game against St Kilda.

"Why hide? Why run away? If you want to be a leader of any organisation, you have to make sometimes hard decisions," Ratten said.

"I started the year, I want to finish the year ... that is my role and I am not hiding from one thing."

Port Adelaide caretaker Garry Hocking says he is willing to work under a new coach at Alberton as Power's search widens to include recently sacked Carlton coach Brett Ratten.

"I love the club," Hocking said.

"It's a great place to work and if the opportunity is there to continue in some role ... even just a development role, I'd still be excited about being involved in the club."

Brett Ratten steps down as senior coach of the Blues, accepting his fate with dignity.

"This is not about me, it is about the club and finishing the year strongly," he said.

"I've lost my job, I love the club and it saddens me. It is nothing compared to others, such as Sam Rowe is going through cancer.

"We're going OK ... we are very fortunate in life. My journey will continue and I will be just as passionate and driven (elsewhere). I'll be fine."

Brett Ratten will not face the media on Wednesday after Carlton cancelled a scheduled media conference due to intense speculation on Ratten's coaching future at the club.

"I spoke to Brett tonight (Tuesday) and I said if you do the press conference, it's going to be all about you," Carlton's communications general manager Ian Coutts said.

"We were disgusted with the media's behaviour, with how they treated Brett at Melbourne Airport on Sunday - he's not a criminal."

Blues assistant Alan Richardson says Brett Ratten remains positive despite the intense speculation over his coaching future following a terrible performance by the side against Gold Coast.

"In Brett Ratten's mind right now, from what we see as coaches, it's about making up for an incredibly disappointing performance," Richardson said.

"It's got noting to do with Brett Ratten, in terms of his own future, it's all about making sure that we respond as a footy club and a footy team this week.

"He's an incredibly selfless person."

The Herald Sun reports that Brett Ratten has already been told that he will no longer be coaching the Blues beyond Carlton's final 2012 round 23 game against St Kilda.

Carlton coach Brett Ratten responds bluntly to questions over his future after a shock loss by the Blues to Gold Coast.

"What do you reckon mate? Come on, you asked the question. What do you reckon?" Ratten said to a reporter.

When the reporter replied with "I imagine so", Ratten continued.

"Good guess, well done," he said

"I'm just asking the question," the reporter said.

"I'm just giving you the answer," Ratten replied.

Brett Ratten says he has been interviewed twice by the AFL over tanking rumours=.

"Personally as a coach, I got investigated twice in regards to this, so I've gone through that procedure and the AFL have ticked it off," Ratten said.

"They've done their findings behind the scenes and everything's clear."

As pressure builds on Carlton coach Brett Ratten following a string of losses, rumours suggest that former Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse has been earmarked to take over from Ratten.

Malthouse, however, says such speculation is "distasteful".

"I just think that it's totally distasteful that people are dancing on his grave and I think that they need to have a look and reflect on how good Brett Ratten has been for that football club," Malthouse said.

"I will not entertain one little bit about talking, or being interested in any [speculation] when a person has got the job and needs the full backing of his club and his supporters."

Chris Judd says the struggling Blues fully support embattled coach Brett Ratten, stating the team just needs to play better.

"He's got our full support and he's doing a great job - we just need to play better footy," Judd said.

"We're not going to look externally and point the blame elsewhere. The players need to take control of that and put up better performances."

Carlton has extended coach Brett Ratten's contract until at least the end of the 2013 season.

"Prior to the season the club and Brett agreed that a decision on his future would not be made until Carlton's season was completed and tonight's scheduled meeting came just days after our semi-final loss [to West Coast]," Carlton president Stephen Kernahan said.

"We have continued to provide feedback to Brett throughout the season and tonight's decision will enable the club to finalise discussions with Brett and his manager to formally reappoint Brett as the senior coach."

Blues chief executive Greg Swann says Brett Ratten is more than likely to have his contract extended for a further to years after meeting expectations by reaching the semi finals in 2011.

"The board is not split. We said at the start of the year that we needed to improve and we have. And we said we could keep him informed throughout, and we have," Swann said.

"We will get this done and we march on to next year."

Brett Ratten's future as coach of Carlton looks secure after the Blues emphatically defeated Essendon in their elimination final.

''There's more personal satisfaction from the point of it's a club that I've been at since I was 14 and knowing that we've had not much success in the last 10 years,'' Ratten said.

"To win a final - we start our climb. Sometimes you have to taste disappointment to realise how far and how deep you have to push to get success."

Carlton coach Brett Ratten has joined the Barry Hall debate, questioning the tactics used by Kangaroo Scott Thompson to rile the reported Bulldog.

Thompson was seen to niggle Hall as the forward doing up his shoelaces.

"I wouldn't like to to see my son doing it or being the one that's being hit - that's my answer," Ratten said.

"I think we have a responsibility as AFL clubs and the AFL to make sure nothing goes down through the grades. We're the role models for society on the field and off the field, and I think we have a responsibility there."

Brett Ratten says he hasn't spoken to Brendan Fevola since the key forward was traded and is disappointed he hasn't cleared the air with the now-Brisbane Lion.

"Do you call him and have a chat about it or do you expect that at 29 he might get on the front foot and talk about it? But that wasn't the case and every individual is different," Ratten said.

"Maybe he just needed some space and to reflect on it later in life."

Former Richmond coach Terry Wallace accuses several Carlton players of being downhill skiers after they were comprehensively beaten by Adelaide.

"Carlton have got some midfielders who've got to learn how to defend, they only want to play one direction and I'm quite happy to name them. I think (Marc) Murphy, (Heath) Scotland, (Nick) Stevens, (Chris) Judd - those four guys just don't defend," Wallace said on SEN.

Carlton coach Brett Ratten did not agree with Wallace's assessment of his playing group.

"I heard a little bit of it. That's up to Terry. That's his opinion and he can have it," a Ratten said.

"Terry may have made an observation that was part of last week's game, but I don't think you can put that down to a season's performance.

"It's very unfair to our group."

Carlton coach Brett Ratten says midfielder Nick Stevens' weight was also a factor when he was dropped three weeks ago.

Stevens has spent the past three weeks at the lower level since his omission following the Blues' loss to Essendon in round 13.

"I think all players in the situation are a little bit frustrated. You'd like to be playing senior footy and getting 30 touches each week and a couple of goals and best on ground and have it just working perfectly, but that's the game itself," Ratten said.

"His form hadn't been great, so he's just gone back and he's working on his game."

Carlton coach Brett Ratten says Nick Stevens and Heath Scotland still have to earn back their places despite strong performances in the VFL after being dropped from the side to face Fremantle.

"They are in the mix. They're quality players but we just went with a different team structure. We'll have to see how we go at the selection table," Ratten said.

Carlton coach Brett Ratten says Brendan Fevola's extroverted nature and growing influence on his teammates make him even more valuable.

"What Brendan brings to our team is that extroverted nature," Ratten said.

"We've done emotional intelligence testing on all of our players and we've got a lot of introverts.

"Brendan is one of the few extroverts at our club, along with Mitch Robinson, so we do need some balance overall and I think Brendan brings that."

Brett Ratten has urged Richmond's assistant coaches to apply for the Tigers' interim position, saying it is a golden opportunity to shine.

"I would say for anyone if you are in doubt, take it, because history shows there have been a lot of caretakers that have gone in and won the job," Ratten said.

Andrew Carrazzo is among several Blues in contention to bolster Carlton's midfield for the clash with Brisbane this weekend after being out with a fractured finger since round 6.

"His fitness levels are outstanding from training, running around half touching the ball with his other hand," Carlton coach Brett Ratten said.

"Now he can fully touch it, so he's right."

Carlton will be without versatile big man Jarrad Waite for the remainder of the 2009 season after exploratory surgery revealed the star Blue would require a full knee reconstruction.

"It's a big loss for us. He's one of those players who plays all ends of the ground and with his run and versatility. He's someone who has been our X-factor," Blues coach Brett Ratten said.

"We've gone to him a few times to produce a good performance and it's not great for him to be in this situation."

Brett Ratten says Carlton's much-hyped improvement has stalled after the worst opening half of football of his coaching career against Adelaide.

"Sometimes you implement new strategies or put some things in place and I thought we just over-corrected the whole roll-down thing," Ratten said.

"You look at the forward 50m and no one is up there and you're just thinking, 'Well, we're never going to score'.

"Their backs just didn't track us and just sat back.

"We virtually had to run and handball from the back pocket to the forward pocket - good luck.

"I take full responsibility."

Carlton coach Brett Ratten says captain Chris Judd is verging on the best form of his career and is ready to spend more time as a forward.

"I think it was probably the best game I have seen him play, and probably not just from his ball-winning ability but to jump and catch the ball," Ratten said.

"From an all-round performance, he's tackling well and winning the ball.

"But now to see him catch the ball, maybe that scares the opposition a bit more."

A day after Terry Wallace was wrongly reported as sacked, Carlton coach Brett Ratten says the media needs to be more accountable.

"I feel pretty sorry for Terry and his family to get put through something like that when it hasn't even been put out by the club," he said. "I think it's very hard on an individual.

"It would be good to make sure the information is spot-on before we actually bring out the big-hitting news that could actually hurt people behind the scenes."

Two losses to Essendon in 2008 has Carlton wanting to right the ledger, says Brett Ratten.

There will be some lively discussions around the Carlton selection table this week with Brett Ratten loathe to change a winning combination despite the availability of first-round absentees Shaun Grigg and Andrew Walker.

"That might be the debate to maybe have to tell Grigg and Walker that they're not in. That's the conundrum," Ratten said.

Brett Ratten has warned his players not to be blinded by the focus on Chris Judd and Ben Cousins ahead of Thursday's season-opening match.

Blues coach Brett Ratten is irate his charges have to travel to Bunbury to take on Fremantle.

CARLTON coach Brett Ratten has taken the extraordinary step of leaving out eight senior players from the squad to face Geelong in Saturday night's NAB Cup semi-final.

Setanta O'hAilpin was a notable absentee from Carlton's family day today but coach Brett Ratten says his punishment should soon be over.

Carlton has extended coach Brett Ratten's contract for a further two years.