After his first full season as Carlton’s Senior Coach, Brett Ratten has been impressed with the in-roads his young team has made in 2008. However, he is quick to add that there’s still a long way to go.
“I’ve sat back at times and been very pleased with our growth as a team in a foundation season…. we didn’t get everything right but we can see that we’re heading in the right path. Then, the other side of me reflects to say ‘we didn’t make the eight’ and that’s the seventh year in a row.”
A highlight of Carlton’s 2008 season was the team’s ability to finish games strongly. This was perfectly illustrated on a wet Adelaide night in Round 11 when the team overcame a 30-point deficit at three quarter time to claim victory over Port Adelaide. It was a turning point for many reasons, but in particular, it demonstrated a real sense of confidence and self-belief amongst the playing group. “After the Port Adelaide game, to do what we did, I think that was the key win for us to really get going in that area.” Ratten said.
While the team showed fantastic fighting qualities to turn games in the last quarter, Ratten also acknowledged the concentration lapses that put the team in that situation to begin with; “I think our start of games were good and our finish of games were good; it’s that middle period between quarter two and quarter three that we need to work on… I think sometimes during games teams scored heavily against us, but to our credit we scored heavily the other way. If we can reduce that a bit more I think that will equate to a few more wins”
When quizzed on his own performance in 2008, Ratten is self-effacing as always. Being the youngest senior coach in the AFL during 2008, Ratten is well aware he was on a steep learning curve just like his young team; “I think it was a young coach still learning his team and what we need going forward.” In true Ratten style though, he was also quick to pay tribute to the support network around him from the board, through to the administration and football department. ‘Ratts’ recognises the importance of club unity in Carlton’s climb up the AFL ladder.
In a matter of days the first group of players will be back at the club to begin their pre-season training and Ratten is clear in his expectations; “I expect our boys to come back in good condition to make sure that we get a real springboard into 2009.”
To watch Brett Ratten’s review of the 2008 season on CFC TV, click here.
