Newly-appointed senior assistant coach Brett Ratten has expressed his excitement at the Saints’ prospects for 2019 and beyond.
Speaking to Sam McClure on SEN’s Time On, Ratten was asked directly what he saw in St Kilda’s under-fire list, and his response was emphatic.
“I see excitement,” he said.
“We saw first-hand at the Hawks in Round 22 their capabilities. Sometimes, it is a bit of consistency as well for individuals and teams.
“When you look at (Jade) Gresham and (Paddy) McCartin…these younger players who have been in the system for a while, like (Jack) Billings and these types, it will be about getting games into them.
“Ben Long had a taste last year, they’ve got some real upside with their list.”
Ratten’s footballing resume boasts 14 seasons and a premiership with Carlton, plus another 12 as both senior coach at the Blues and assistant at Hawthorn.
Brett Ratten was a star at Carlton across 12 seasons.
But new horizons at the Saints have presented the 47-year-old with a fresh challenge.
“I’m really looking forward to working at the Saints,” said Ratten.
“I’ve worked with Richo before, he was a very good operator when he was the senior assistant to me (at Carlton).
“It’s like getting the old band back together but with a different instrument. We lived around similar areas for a long time, our kids played sport together. It’ll be pretty easy, and we’ll just work pretty hard together and get some good success.”
READ: Ratten bolsters Saints
Success, though, would only eventuate from greater consistency in the Saints’ performances, according to Ratten.
“We’ve got a young list and we’ve got some talented players,” he said.
“It will be about our consistency throughout the year, but it is exciting. When you see those players and how they can play, there’s some real skill there.
“But we know the game is hard and you’ve got to play for 120-odd minutes to make sure you get the result. That will be our challenge.
“We’ve got Pick 4 to come in and last year, (draftees) (Nick) Coffield and Hunter (Clark). They’re the young players who have had a taste of AFL footy and in their second year will be better.”
Ratten also highlighted the huge influence incoming ex-Swan Dan Hannebery will have on the Saints’ relatively young group.
“For Dan, it’ll be his leadership too,” he added.
“He’s been at a football club that’s hardly ever missed finals, so he knows exactly what it’s about.
READ: Hannebery is with St Kilda
“He’s a premiership player, he’s been an All Australian, he’s a terrific player.
"So to just not have his football nous, but also his leadership that he can add to our group will be vital.”
