“Ratts is our coach and he gets every support from our Football Club. We have nine games to go, a lot of footy to be played and we are not going to give it away just yet. Ratts is our coach and he will be coaching to the end of the year,” Kernahan said in response to a question on this issue.
Importantly Kernahan wanted to focus on the entire club, not just the coach or indeed any individuals, saying everyone at the club was involved, from the board down. And while it was suggested he was sounding relaxed about the situation Kernahan was quick to point out that his focus was firmly on Friday night and the Peter Mac Cup match against Collingwood at the MCG.
“It’s not about me at the moment,” Kernahan said.
“It’s not about Brett Ratten.
“It’s about the Carlton Football Club getting up for what’s a huge game for this footy club on Friday night,” was Kernahan’s response regarding the current position.
“…Let me tell you I am far from relaxed. We will stand up and cop the criticism. I don’t care about injuries. Our players have to represent our jumper in a way that is befitting of the century and a half that we’ve been alive.
“And that’s what I want to see on Friday night from our players.”
In finishing the interview Kernahan spoke again about Brett Ratten and Friday night’s clash against Collingwood.
“To our supporters out there, it’s not about Brett Ratten all the time. We’ve worked him over that hard as a club and supporter base but unfortunately (for the media and supporters) it stops with the coach.
“We will back him in and whatever happens on Friday night (in terms of the result) I think you will see a committed Carlton football team. I expect that to happen.”
