BREAKING: Saints reportedly axe coach Brett Ratten with two years left on freshly-signed deal

St Kilda is set to part ways with coach Brett Ratten, per multiple reports but first revealed by AFL Media’s Cal Twomey.

The Saints have recently gone through a review of their football operations and it’s claimed the findings will see their senior coach depart.

Foxfooty.com.au has reached out for comment.

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Ratten signed a two-year extension back in July, while he was due to come out of contract, which committed him to the club until the end of 2024.

“As the leader of our men’s program, Brett has secured significant buy-in from his fellow coaches, staff and players alike,” Saints president Andrew Bassat said on July 8.

“In addition to his strong football IQ, our players appreciate his ability to develop strong relationships, which he uses as a foundation to challenge each individual to get better and to deliver their role for the team.

“This balance, and the ability to unite his coaches, players and staff in a relentless quest for excellence makes Brett the best person to lead us towards our much longed-for second premiership.”

Veteran AFL club administrator Geoff Walsh was appointed the club’s new football boss earlier this month following the review, and declared there had “been a degree of irrelevance” when it comes to St Kilda in the past.

Earlier this year Walsh helped conduct the review at North Melbourne which led to David Noble’s sacking, as well as the 2021 review which led to David Teague’s sacking from Carlton.

Brett Ratten is out at St Kilda. Picture: Mark StewartSource: News Corp Australia

Ratten was the caretaker coach after the mid-season sacking of Alan Richardson in 2019, and led the Saints to the finals in his first season of 2020.

But since then they have failed to return to the top eight. This year they sat fourth after Round 11 with an 8-3 record, but then lost eight of their last 11 matches to miss out.

The Saints were then quiet in the trade period, missing out on big fish such as Jordan De Goey and only adding free agent Zaine Cordy, while giving up Ben Long for pick 32.

“I just worry that they are recruiting to be competitive or make finals, not necessarily win a premiership,” North Melbourne champion David King said on Fox Footy’s Trading Day.

“I’ve had concerns about this list for a whole and St Kilda fans think I’m bashing them.

“They’ve got to be careful not to become the list clogger capital of Australia.”

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Ratten was previously the coach of Carlton between 2007 and 2012.

He was shockingly sacked from that role following the 2012 season, where the Blues – like his Saints this year – finished 10th.

Ratten was also an assistant coach at Hawthorn from late 2012 until the end of 2018.