Brett Ratten bombshell leaves AFL world in uproar: ‘Total disgrace’

Brett Ratten looks on during a St Kilda game in 2022. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

AFL fans have reacted with shock and anger over reports that St Kilda are set to part ways with coach Brett Ratten.

A number of media outlets reported on Thursday night that Ratten is set to be sacked by the Saints despite signing a two-year contract extension in July.

NOT HAPPY: John Howard hits out over ‘disgraceful’ Essendon saga

‘DUDDED’: Legend lashes out over Roos’ move in AFL mega-trade

St Kilda have recently undergone a review of their football operations, with Callum Twomey of AFL.com reporting that Ratten will depart as a result.

Ratten has been coach of St Kilda for the past three full seasons, taking over from Alan Richardson midway through 2019.

He steered the Saints to the finals that year, but has failed to make the top eight in the past two seasons.

The Saints, who will celebrate their 150th year in 2023, hold the competition’s longest premiership drought – with their maiden flag coming in 1966.

Veteran administrator Geoff Walsh said earlier this month that he wants to help bring “relevance” back to St Kilda after being appointed the club’s new football boss.

“This might sound abrasive and the Saints fans might get upset, but one of the things that I think when asked about how I see St Kilda, I think the the competition would say there’s been a degree of irrelevance,” Walsh told SEN radio.

“That should be abrasive, that should sort of choke down peoples’ throats, and I hope moving forward that I can contribute to a profile that gives the Saints the due respect that they crave.”

Brett Ratten with wife Jo at the 2022 Brownlow Medal. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Walsh, who brings more than 35 years’ experience to his role as executive general manager of football, conceded St Kilda need to recruit more elite talent in order to climb back into premiership contention.

It comes after the Saints missed out on high-profile target Jordan De Goey, who opted to remain at Collingwood.

“One of the things the Saints need to do over this trade and draft period and the next, and even the next, is an injection of top-end talent,” Walsh said.

Story continues

“They’ve got a lot of good players. I think that they would really do well and benefit from the injection of some top-end talent.

“That’s one of the things that I think will help them up the road.”

Brett Ratten speaks to the players during St Kilda’s clash with Sydney. (Photo by Morgan Hancock/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

St Kilda started the 2022 season in impressive fashion, going 8-3 in their first 11 games.

However they fell away badly in the second half of the year to finish 11-11 and miss the top eight.

It was a disappointing result after club president Andrew Bassat had claimed it was the year when the Saints’ premiership window would open under Ratten.

“It’s not as if they’re devoid of talent or devoid of hope,” Walsh said.

“I think that there’s some opportunities there for them to springboard into that bottom half of the eight, as a first step. That’s exciting to me.”

AFL fans and commentators reacted with disbelief to reports of Rutten’s sacking on Thursday night.

with AAP

Click here to sign up to our newsletter for all the latest and breaking stories from Australia and around the world.