Coaching Moneyball: All the latest news, movement, contracts

St Kilda has confirmed that they’ve re-signed coach Brett Ratten to another two years, declaring him the man to lead the club to its second premiership.

St Kilda coach Brett Ratten has won a two-year coaching extension, which will take his time at Moorabbin until at least the end of 2024.

Ratten, who started at the Saints in 2019, took the club to the finals in 2020 but missed out last year and the ninth-placed side is battling it out to make it to September this season.

In a letter to St Kilda members on Friday morning, Saints president Andrew Bassat said he believed Ratten was the man to lead the club to its second premiership.

“As the leader of our men’s program, Brett has secured significant buy-in from his fellow coaches, staff and players alike. 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,” Bassat wrote.

“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.”

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Brett Ratten has secured another two years as coach of the Saints. Picture: Getty Images

Bassat said the club would “bold and aggressive” in its pursuit for sustained success.

“Our club hasn’t always been in a position to completely focus on and fully invest in football for a myriad of reasons,” Bassat wrote.

“That is no longer the case.

“Our record membership and sponsorship levels have strengthened our off-field position, and by the end of the year we expect to have halved the club’s historical debt. This all coincides with the establishment of the Danny Frawley Centre back at our spiritual home of Moorabbin at RSEA Park.

“We must be unrelenting and embrace each day as a chance to improve.

“Brett exemplifies this urgency daily, not only through his coaching, but through the transparent and authentic way he draws the best out of those around him. His genuine belief and deep understanding of where we all want this club to go is clear in each decision he makes, and even more so by the way he brings others along with him.”

Hinkley, Port make call on future

- Jon Ralph

Port Adelaide and Ken Hinkley are committed to him seeing out his contract for 2023 despite an open coaching market and speculation about a move to Greater Western Sydney.

Hinkley has no interest in entering into a coaching process with the Giants as he attempts to drag the Power into the finals from a rocky 0-5 start to the year.

The 55-year-old has been linked to a potential move given the shaky season of Port Adelaide and a tenure that is about to approach 10 completed seasons.

Hinkley continues to react angrily to suggestions that he might jump ship as he is persistently linked to clubs including GWS.

The Giants have ramped up their coaching search by meeting four-time premiership coach Alastair Clarkson as they prepare to receive a board presentation from caretaker Mark McVeigh.

Ken Hinkley continues to react angrily to suggestions that he might jump ship.

Port Adelaide chief executive Matthew Richardson’s strong statement that he would also coach out his contract for 2023 is backed by the belief the Power are still in the premiership window next year.

Port Adelaide’s view is that with players like Todd Marshall, Mitch Georgiades, Connor Rozee, Zac Butters and Lachie Jones still to reach their peak they still have a significant upside.

The club’s oldest player Travis Boak will play on given his form next year and Robbie Gray’s excellent showing against Fremantle (21 possessions) means he is likely to also go on into 2023.

As for any coach entering a decade in charge of a club without a premiership Hinkley has polarised the fan base, with some members keen for a change in philosophy.

But there is a genuine belief from the club’s administration and football department that Hinkley has the firm respect of the players and the opportunity to win an elusive flag in 2023.

Richardson has been impressed by Hinkley’s unwavering focus during those dark early rounds when the Power went winless and capacity to bring the side back to finals contention.

He told News Corp last month there was no doubt about Hinkley’s coaching future.

There is a genuine belief from the club’s administration and football department that Hinkley has the firm respect of the players.

“Ken is our coach and he will be our coach in 2023. He has taken us to the last two preliminary finals and has shown great strength. He is contracted for 2023 and that is not going to change.”

If Hinkley coaches on into 2023 as expected there will be continued scrutiny on him given the expiry of his current contract but when he last coached for his career in 2020 he won a new contract given his team’s performance.

Only a disastrous last third of the season would give the club cause to reconsider but bringing in a new coach like premiership player Adam Kingsley, now at Richmond, would not guarantee immediate success.

Chairman David Koch made clear last week the club had stayed rock-solid despite its early-season issues.

“Football clubs start to worry about coaching and coaching groups when there is fighting among players and coaches and there is a lack of support for each other,” he said.

“There is not one iota of that at Port Adelaide Football Club and there has not been for the whole year.”