St Kilda coach Brett Ratten sacked months after signing new contract

St Kilda coach Brett Ratten has been sacked despite signing a two-year contract extension a matter of months ago.

2022 AFL Football Round 22 - St Kilda Saints V Brisbane Lions at Marvel Stadium. Brett Ratten coach of the Saints. Picture: Mark Stewart

St Kilda has sensationally sacked coach Brett Ratten just months after he signed a new contract.

Multiple outlets are reporting that the findings of a review of the club’s football operations will see the senior coach part ways with the Saints.

Ratten signed a two-year contract extension in July when he was about to come out of contract, in a deal which committed him to the club until the end of the 2024 season.

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The timing of the announcement will only increase speculation St Kilda has already found a replacement for Ratten.

Contenders for the coaching job include St Kilda great Lenny Hayes, departing GWS assistant coach Mark McVeigh and highly-rated Melbourne assistant Adam Yze.

Ratten took over as caretaker coach midway through the 2019 season when Alan Richardson was sacked as coach and has had three full seasons in charge.

He led St Kilda to the finals in 2020, which saw the Saints win an elimination final against the Western Bulldogs.

St Kilda is reportedly set to sack coach Brett Ratten. (Photo by Will Russell/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

But St Kilda have not made the top eight since then, finishing 10th in both 2021 and 2022.

The Saints started the season with a 5-3 record but faded badly, losing eight of their 11 matches.

They had a quiet trade period, missing out on the big-name signature of Collingwood midfielder Jordan De Goey.

After Ratten signed his new deal with St Kilda in July, club president Andrew Bassat said: “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.

“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.”

Ratten was previously the coach of Carlton between 2007 and 2012. He was surprisingly sacked after the 2012 season when the Blues came 10th.

He served as an assistant coach at Hawthorn from late 2012 to 2018 before getting the rare opportunity to be a senior coach at a second AFL club.

St Kilda has the longest premiership drought of any team in the AFL, with their last triumph coming back in 1966.