AFL 2023: Brett Ratten joins Hawthorn after quitting North Melbourne

Moves are happening at pace for those AFL clubs not involved in the grand final and Brett Ratten has landed at a new home.

Alastair Clarkson and Brett Ratten, who has moved to Hawthorn. Picture: Michael Klein

Brett Ratten’s brief taste as caretaker coach at North Melbourne was enough for him to want a full-time return to football and he has joined Hawthorn after being pursued by several clubs.

Asked to be a part-time helper for Alastair Clarkson at the Kangaroos, Ratten, who has been dumped by both Carlton and St Kilda, was thrust into the main job during Clarkson’s break from the game to work on his mental and physical health.

Ratten opted to leave North at the end of the season and will now take on the head of coaching performance and development role under senior coach Sam Mitchell at the Hawks, returning the club where he worked with Clarkson before taking on the role at the Saints.

“I am really confident about the direction Hawthorn has taken in developing a young list on the way back to contending for premiership success, it is one of the main reasons why I choose to return to the Hawks,” Ratten said.

“There is a great group of coaches and football staff at the club, and I am really keen to get to work in the pre-season and help set the club up for a big 2024.”

Alastair Clarkson with Brett Ratten during 2023. Photo by Michael Klein.

Ratten’s move comes amid a flurry of changes at clubs land and fills the gap at the Hawks left by Chris Newman who has been lured back to Richmond under new coach Adem Yze.

Newman, a highly rated assistant coach at Hawthorn, will depart the club after eight seasons, which included a stint coaching Box Hill to the 2018 VFL premiership.

The 268-game defender is set to be a senior assistant with the Tigers, as caretaker coach Andrew McQualter looks for opportunities at another club following the decision to pick Yze as premiership mentor Damien Hardwick’s successor.

Hawthorn released a statement on Tuesday thanking Newman, his wife Lauren and their four children for their time at the club.

Hawks football boss Rob McCartney said Newman had been “upfront” with the club about his desire to expand his skill set by moving to a new environment.

New Richmond coach Adem Yze (left) and incoming assistant Chris Newman (right) worked together under Alastair Clarkson at Hawthorn. Picture: Michael Klein

“There’s no doubting the positive impact Chris has made here at Hawthorn,” McCartney said.

“Right from the beginning of his coaching journey, Chris demonstrated a great ability to build strong connections and relationships with his players and staff.

“After going through the process for the senior coach role at Richmond, Chris felt that gaining more experience in another coaching environment would help his development and further his senior coaching aspirations.”

It comes as another Richmond assistant short-listed for the senior coach role, Xavier Clarke, revealed he would join North Melbourne to work under Alastair Clarkson.

Xavier Clarke (left) has decided to pursue a role with North Melbourne after being overlooked for the senior job at Richmond. Picture: Michael Klein

Clarke, who joined Richmond in 2016 after coaching the NT Thunder to the 2015 NEAFL premiership, had been in charge of the Tigers’ forward line for the last two seasons.

Kangaroos football boss Todd Viney said the former Brisbane and St Kilda player was a “perfect fit” for the rebuilding club, who earlier this month parted ways with senior assistant John Blakey and development coach Gavin Brown.

“A highly talented player and now a highly talented coach, Xavier understands what it takes to achieve the ultimate success having coached his own team, the NT Thunder, to a premiership and played a part in three premierships at Richmond,” Viney said.

“His eight years at Punt Road have seen him build his coaching experience and undertake an array of roles.

“He also understands the challenges that football can bring, having faced a number of injury setbacks over his career.”

Shortly after confirming Newman’s departure, Hawthorn also announced it had delisted a trio of players: Josh Morris, Emerson Jeka and Irish rookie Fionn O’Hara.