Brett Ratten has hit again at criticism of his St Kilda reign, saying Saints legend Nick Riewoldt would not know the way the membership functioned throughout that point as he solely turned up for “free physio”.
Ahead of his return to St Kilda on Sunday, 9 months after being brutally sacked by the membership, Ratten has defended his document.
Riewoldt, who resides within the United States this yr after giving up most of his media commitments in Australia, this week strongly defended present St Kilda coach Ross Lyon because the Saints cling onto their place within the top-eight.
“I can promise you now, the standards in that joint (St Kilda) over the last however long have been sub-par,” the previous Saints captain, who performed below Lyon for 5 seasons, advised the Footy Talk podcast.
“They (St Kilda) have absolutely gone forward this year.”
But Ratten – sacked by St Kilda final October, lower than 100 days after signing a two-year extension to stay at Moorabbin – fired again.
“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 stated on Wednesday.
“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 not change it.”
After being swiftly replaced as coach by St Kilda’s prodigal son Lyon, Ratten took up a part-time role working under Alastair Clarkson at North Melbourne.
He quickly found himself in charge of a third AFL club in May when Clarkson took mental-health leave as the Hawthorn racism saga was investigated.
North on Wednesday announced Clarkson will resume full-time coaching and take the job back from Ratten ahead of the Kangaroos’ round-21 clash with Melbourne.
“I knew by way of this era, I did not know when, however Clarko was coming again,” Ratten stated.
“I knew it was going to return to an finish and now it is a few weeks away.
“I didn’t get the chance last time to say goodbye (at St Kilda) and this is a good opportunity to just enjoy the last couple of weeks.”
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
