Brett Ratten knew it was coming. It was the great big awkward elephant parked in the corner of the Metricon Stadium press conference room.
His future as Carlton coach has been a talking point all year, so it should have come as no surprise that it was about to heat up again after his side blew their finals chances in stunning fashion on Australia’s holiday strip.
Ratts, you assume, is smart enough a man to be aware of what questions are going to be thrown his way by reporters and at what times.
e’s been in the AFL game for a while. This was one that simply had to be put to him.
And yet he couldn’t have been less ready for it.
“What do you reckon? Come on, you answer the question. What do you reckon?” was Ratten’s now-infamous comeback when asked if he was concerned personally with the ramifications of the Blues’ 12-point loss to Gold Coast.
The reply came, “I’d imagine so.”
So what did Ratts have up his sleeve? “Good guess. Well done.”
When the presser was over, he told the reporter who asked that he’d heard that question a million times before. But never had it been more relevant.
For a guy whose performance has been under so much scrutiny, this was not the picture Ratten and his club wanted or needed to paint.
It is easier said than done to hold your nerve with all those cameras and microphones in your face – much less after a result so embarrassing and catastrophic.
But Ratten let his guard slip, and in the end his lack of temperament was the story.
He didn’t have a line like ‘No, I’m not done with this group’ or ‘I’m not worrying about that, all we can worry about is…’ in his back pocket for the reporters to chew on.
That’s probably because he never thought he’d have to.
This scribe has seen enough Gold Coast games to know when their opposition treats them with respect, and when their opposition expects them to roll over and cop it. The Blues were in the latter camp.
In fact, the Carlton team that became the first established side to lose at the refurbished Carrara ground was just as ill-prepared for the ferocious Suns as Ratten was for the inevitable question. Perhaps moreso.
And that responsibility lies on whose shoulders? The coach.
No, he wasn’t on the field and had nothing to do with the countless opportunities his men wasted in the second half. He didn’t physically do the choking.
But it’s his job to make sure his players fully understand the gravity of the situation before them.
“If we play well, we give ourselves an opportunity to kick a good score and if we don’t play so well, we take the foot off the accelerator, we’ll make hard work of it,” is what he said the day before the game.
Now a club that thought it was top four material in pre-season will be nursing a Mad Monday hangover in seven days’ time.
Take nothing away from the Suns – they showed a tantalizing glimpse of the future. But just how good they were is a yarn for another day.
Clearly, when a side is outclassed by a quasi-NEAFL team in a make-or-break match, either the coach’s message isn’t getting through, or the players don’t want to hear it from him.
Fortunately, Ratten has been spared the axe – for this week, at least. Carlton president Stephen Kernahan says the club will make no decision on his future until the end of the season. That’s only a week away.
And all the while, Mick Malthouse has shamelessly ummed and ahhed in the media over whether he wants to come back and coach again, knowing full well of Ratten’s predicament.
He’s even come out and said that if he doesn’t do it in 2012, he’ll never do it again – a clear ‘come and get me’ call to the Blues’ board.
People are lining up for his job. The supporters are baying for blood. The players, as they always do in these situations, have escaped largely scot-free.
This is Ratts’ bed and he has to lie in it. He didn’t quite make it, and it might not be lights out just yet, but he certainly tucked himself in.
Macca
Guest
Ian - It's not that I hate Karmichael, it is that his performances don't stack up, Casboult has shown more in his few games than Hunt has and Hunt is a lot closer to 50 games. On top of that he is coming up 26 while Casboult is 22. Add in that the suns have close to a dozen other midfielders who will compete for a spot with Hunt who are younger and more talented while the blues are crying out for a tall forward who takes contested grabs and there is no comparison between the 2, Casboult is head and shoulders above him.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
In completely unintentional comedy gold, Macca said "Brendan – “Lets see what he does over 50 games before he is declared a find” Do you lack vision Brendan, can you only see ability once it is proved beyond doubt. Good thing you aren’t a recruiter!" I'll repeat that. Froth-spewing Karmichael Hunt-hater Macca said "Brendan – “Lets see what he does over 50 games before he is declared a find” Do you lack vision Brendan, can you only see ability once it is proved beyond doubt. Good thing you aren’t a recruiter!"
Macca
Guest
Brendan - "Lets see what he does over 50 games before he is declared a find" Do you lack vision Brendan, can you only see ability once it is proved beyond doubt. Good thing you aren't a recruiter! "Macca if Collingwood snag the flag they will be equal with Carlton yet they have not beaten the Blues in grand final since 1910" Talk about your pointless stats.
Jon B Bagger
Guest
It looks like a savior has turned up to save Carlton, get ready supporters for a string of flags guaranteed.. Malthouse is that savior, he has the reputation, played himself in one grand final coached footscray for around five years about 50 percent success but that's OK he was only new at it then, now a big break the new team on the block West Coast Eagles for around nine years for a couple of flags considering having the pick of the bunch... Now the group is starting to get a little long in the tooth, bit hard to pinch another flag in the short time and could start to encounter some embarrassments , so it's time to move on and look for something fresh. Ahh! Collingwood, within two to three years final after final then finally after ten years finally jagged one, after having two shots at it "lucky", I think that is embarrassing considering the group he walked into already had the hard work half done by Tony Shaw.. Now Brett Ratten in comparison success has been pretty ordinary, he has only captained the blues through the dark ages then thrown on a pitch of dead grass, with a little fertilizer it started to bloom and early this year looked to be on track for a good season but then came hail and wheels started skidding but we can help that just get rid of the coach, that is what every other club does that way keeps a little heat off players and committee... I think Carlton is making another big mistake by dropping probably the most dedicated coach they've ever had just because missing finals not taking under account of a season record injuries.. Just as David Parkin said there's no coach could have done any more than Brett under the circumstances.... If Carlton don't make finals or top four in 2013 are they going to sack the coach?
Andrew A
Guest
Perhaps Fev could make a comeback? There aren't too many quality key forwards going around.
Andrew A
Guest
Anything can happen in footy if the price is right. Look at Mitch Clark last year - adamant he was returning to Perth yet ended up at Melbourne. There'd be plenty of salary cap room if Cloke left.
brendan
Guest
Lets see what he does over 50 games before he is declared a find.You just dont get it Carlton nor its players have the score on the board who knows Casboult might make a champion chb ala Mopsy Fraser who Jack Dyer sent to the backline after he kicked 8-9 points in the first half in a game.As i have posted before your loyalty to the Blues is commendable but i respect Carlton for what they were and dont think this 7- 10 year plan of success you endorse is acceptable.It appears Ratten is gone good luck to the Blues and whoever there new coach is. Demanding success from both its coaching and playing staff is the way forward for this club.In the early 20th century Fitzroy won 7 flags in 25 years and then only one more under that name i would hate to think Carlton won't win another flag.In terms of Ratten IMO his playing career triple best and fairest etch influenced the boards perception of his coaching ability too much.Macca if Collingwood snag the flag they will be equal with Carlton yet they have not beaten the Blues in grand final since 1910 which has to be the longest winning streak in world sport so they shouldn't be level with your team and there is only one way that can cahange.Cheers.
Macca
Guest
Can't see them getting Tippett, if he goes it will be to the Suns.
Andrew A
Guest
The Pies will need to recruit a key forward to fill the massive hole should Cloke leave. There's only Jackson Paine in the VFL who can play a key forward role but he's not ready yet. Dawes has been disappointing after showing some promise in 2010. He's got good endurance and works hard but can't hold his marks. The Pies should do everything they can to keep Cloke. Someone like Kurt Tippett would fit in perfectly at Collingwood as a forward/ruckman.
Macca
Guest
Andrew A - truth be told I have never rated Dawes but the fact he hasn't been dropped indicates they don't have an alternative, they had a lot of injuries to key defenders but they have a great number of them, they clearly don't have a key forward in the wings. similarly with the back up ruckman. So my point is that Collingwood could have had no other injuries but lose say Jolly and Cloke and it would of been much worse than all the injuries hty have had.
Andrew A
Guest
Perhaps the Pies may have performed better with Cloke and Dawes out of the side. Dawes has been mediocre all year but Buckley has persisted with him to fill the key forward/relief ruck role that is clearly unsuitable. Dawes' marking has fallen away badly since he injured his thumb late last season. He's never regained confidence since. The second ruck position is a problem at the Pies. Wood isn't up to it and the youngsters in the VFL aren't ready yet. Cloke has played some good footy this year, but far too many mediocre games also. Perhaps the contract talks have affected him mentally. Maybe he will rediscover form under Malthouse at Carlton.
Macca
Guest
Great to hear.
checkside
Guest
Macca - guilty plea accepted. We move on.
Macca
Guest
Andrew A - Agree with most of that, especially about Cloke, we will get a look at Mitchell on the weekend as well and if he is as good as expected we would have Waite plus 2 20 year marking forwards why bother with Cloke? On injuries I would say I don't think either West Coast or Collingwood suffered as badly as we did and the Pies have a more developed list and got injuries in area's where they had plenty of cover, if they had of lost Cloke and/or Dawes (like we had injuries to Casboult, Hampson, Mitchell & Waite) I don't think they would of covered them.
Andrew A
Guest
Ratten doesn't deserve to get the sack. The team plays for him and try their best. Losing to a significantly undermanned Gold Coast team was a disastrous result considering Carlton were playing to stay in contention for the 8. But it wasn't Ratten's fault. It's the players who couldn't execute their skills on the night, both field kicking and kicking for goal. Injuries have impacted Carlton this year as they have impacted other sides such as West Coast, Collingwood and Essendon. West Coast and Collingwood have coped significantly better than Carlton and don't use injuries as an excuse when they perform poorly. Perhaps West Coast and Collingwood develop their list better to fill roles when players are out. Carlton will probably succumb to their financial backers wishes and try and buy their way to success by appointing Malthouse and probably Cloke. I think Ratten should be retained and Cloke shouldn't be recruited. Casboult has shown enough in his first few games to indicate that he could hold down a key forward post and Ratten has the players going in hard for him.
Macca
Guest
The MRP has considered your joke (I assume that is what it was) and found it pointless, witless and irrelevant. Therefore you can either accept a guilty plea and intelligently discuss football or you can serve a suspension of however long you like before deciding to intelligently discuss football.
checkside
Guest
The MRP has considered your "high horse" comment as low impact but reckless. Therefore you are to cease outrageous comments relating to why Carlton did not make the finals and expansion sides.
dermienator
Roar Rookie
The simple matter is coaches have usually 3-5 years to show there wares.We already have 2 glaring examples of clubs making a right and wrong move this year.Sanderson is the right one,he has released the crows and they are playing a much more positive brand of footy.The wrong one is Neeld,he has taken the demons backwards,and Baileys record is starting to look ok. Ratten's a nice bloke,but with malthouse available,i feel the fat lady is singing.
Macca
Guest
Checkside - If you look at what I have said you will see I agree with what you are saying on the main. I only made "personal sledges" against one contributor who was clearly being combative and deliberately ignorant. If people want to be rational and have an intelligent discussion of football I am more than happy to accommodate, if they want to be petty , ignorant and disrespectful then they can't expect respect. And have a look at the various "personal sledges" I have endured on various threads before getting on your high horse.
checkside
Guest
Macca - have just read your input throughout. I respect the passion you have about your beloved footy club but the facts are Carlton are not good enough to make the finals and excuses are not good enough. You said it yourself that the only way to respond was the team to win on the field. It didn't happen and the players let the coach, club and supporters down. The fact that it was an expansion club obviously angered you didn't give you the right for personal sledges. We all love our footy and our team but there is always next year.