Ratten will coach the Blues for the last time against St Kilda at Etihad Stadium on Sunday, which Brown said presented an opportunity for the team to make amends in some small way for the disaster on the Gold Coast.
"It is over to the players now," Brown said shortly after Ratten took his last training session at Visy Park on Saturday.
"The coach has gone and the club has reacted the way they have. It will be interesting to say the least."
With a finals spot on the line, the 22 players that represented Carlton against the undermanned Suns put in a desperately disappointing effort, but Ratten has refused to lay the blame for his sacking at their feet.
"He's probably protected his players somewhat given the circumstances of last week," Brown said.
"I guess you could be angry at that, but he's actually gone the other way and protected them.
"It will be interesting to see how the players respond given what happened last week.
"We all know it's a ruthless business, but last week we needed to win the four points to make finals, but it goes so much deeper than that [this week]. Hopefully the players can actually sense that and try and make amends."
Brown said Ratten has been determined to keep the focus on the team throughout a turbulent week in the club's history.
But he admitted the applause from the small crowd that gathered at Visy Park as the coach departed the oval for the last time had been a touching moment.
"It was a little bit emotional, actually, for everyone," he said.
"I just thought it was a fantastic send-off for Ratts and hopefully a prelude into the game tomorrow where all the supporters will get an opportunity to thank a favourite son for all he's done for the club."
Brown's former boss, Mick Malthouse, is the hot tip to take over from Ratten, but the assistant coach declined to buy into speculation about who the club might approach for the role.
