St Kilda caretaker Brett Ratten’s local footy vibe is bringing fun and results to Moorabbin

Soup after training and a few laughs along the way. St Kilda caretaker Brett Ratten is “like a seven-year-old” off the field but his players are loving it — and that’s bringing results on game day.

Brett Ratten hugs Josh Bruce. Pic: Michael Klein

On the first day Brett Ratten took the reins at St Kilda, it became clear to the Saints players what kind of senior coach he was going to be.

In the wake of a “pretty tumultuous” week following the sacking of Alan Richardson, caretaker coach Ratten was keen to lighten the mood around Moorabbin — and not just in the short-term.

“The first day he took over he said, ‘When you’re head coach you can get a little bit serious so if you ever see me being too serious tell me to bloody lighten up’,” St Kilda forward Josh Bruce said.

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Brett Ratten is trying not to get too serious. Pic: Getty Images

“I got stuck into him on the first day saying, ‘Lighten up Ratts, you’re already too serious’.”

Bruce was just pulling Ratten’s leg.

The pair had worked closely together all year and formed a strong bond, with Ratten having been an assistant coach under Richardson.

“He’s exactly the same,” Bruce said, sporting a more serious face.

“I was lucky enough to work with him throughout the year as a forwards coach and he’s like a seven-year-old.

“He’s so infectious with his enthusiasm and he makes the club such a great place to be around.”

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Maintaining a laid-back persona was not the only thing on Ratten’s checklist.

After their Friday captain’s run, St Kilda players and staff are now being treated to a hearty soup for lunch in a throwback to pasta or soup nights from their local football days.

It’s all about bonding and building stronger connections across the playing group and the club.

“After our captain’s run we come in and there’s bread and soup there,” Bruce said.

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“It’s like on a winter’s night if you’re playing local footy. Ratts is just bringing that vibe back to it. It’s all about camaraderie and making the club a great place to be around because in the depths of winter it can get hard.

“He (Ratten) is not doing the cooking, but just things like that are really making it feel like a country football club and a real football club.”

On the field, the game style has also been tweaked under Ratten — and the forwards are a fan.

Ratten hugs Josh Bruce after the round 18 win over the Bulldogs. Pic: Michael Klein

St Kilda has kicked over 100 points in each of its past two games, having not reached the milestone in its previous 22 matches.

The Saints have kicked a combined 12.11 (83) from forward half intercepts over the past two games under Ratten, having kicked just 2.4 (16) from the scoring source during the last two weeks of the Richardson era.

“We’re playing a slightly different brand of footy and the boys are coming to play,” Bruce said.

“It’s a pleasure to be a part of and we’re turning over the ball closer to goal.

“These days it’s a territory game and a territory battle and if you can turn it over closer to goal, you’re going to score easier goals.”

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St Kilda has also been better retaining its forward structure in another minor tweak to its game that has contributed to the scoring frenzy.

“We’re definitely having something more to kick to on that longer kick a little bit deeper because we were finding earlier in the year teams were just covering back on us and we couldn’t get past them,” Bruce said.

Ratten is a strong chance to earn his second senior coaching role. Pic: AAP

“So it’s a good little switch and it seems to be working well.”

Ratten was caretaker coach for the last six games of the 2007 season after the Blues parted ways with Denis Pagan, but still got the full-time job for the following season.

Placed in the same scenario this year with six games to go, Ratten already has two wins from as many games as he pushes his case to continue again.

“He’s a highly experienced coach and he’s been there before so I’m sure he’s learnt lessons of what he needs to do this time to make a real fist of it,” Bruce said.

“He’s obviously auditioning for the job and doing a really good job.”