Leading AFL journalist Caroline Wilson has shed light on the movements of recently departed North Melbourne assistant-turned interim coach Brett Ratten, urging the experienced mentor to seek opportunities within the AFL.
Ratten was previously head coach of Carlton and St Kildaover from Alastair Clarkson at North Melbourne for 10 games of the 2023 season from while the senior coach was on mental health leave.
The interim coach announced he was leaving Arden Street at the end of August, after a turbulent year.
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Wilson explained Ratten’s “hunger” to remain involved in the game, but implored him to seek a different opportunity away from senior coaching.
“Brett Ratten … wants to stay in footy, he wants to work in footy full time,” Wilson confirmed on Nine’s Footy Classified on Monday night.
“He would have loved to have stayed at North, not as an assistant coach, but in a coaching director role or a footy department boss role.
“Obviously Todd Viney’s doing the main job. North couldn’t afford that (Ratten) in their soft cap.
“I think that’s where he (Ratten) is looking. A Neil Balme-type role.”
Wilson suggested Ratten head to the AFL, with the league still unable to fill Essendon coach Brad Scott’s general manager of football role.
“Would he look at that footy performance role, the old Brad Scott role that’s still vacant at the AFL? I’m not sure, they could probably use some experience there, because there’s a lot of younger people in the footy jobs at the AFL,” Wilson said.
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Wilson further appealed to the embattled assistant coach to stay in the game, despite his difficult luck over the past few years, including his shock sacking as St Kilda coach, just 97 days after he signed a two-year contract extension.
“I hope Brett Ratten stays in footy. It’s been a tough couple of years for him, but he’s got the hunger back, not to coach, but to do something else,” Wilson said.
Essendon legend Matthew Lloyd also championed Ratten’s addition to the game, backing Wilson’s suggestions to find an even more impactful role away from coaching.
“What a great effort from him to step up, toughest job there is, to coach North Melbourne this year after what happened with Clarkson,” Lloyd said.
“It’s probably not a bad time for him to move on, after you’ve been the coach and you’ve done everything there (at North Melbourne), to find a new club to be a part of.”
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