THREE-time Carlton premiership coach David Parkin has strongly endorsed Brett Ratten to continue in the top job at Visy Park next season.
Parkin admits to a close personal bond with Ratten - the pair tasted premiership success as coach and player in 1995 - but he maintains Ratten's coaching performance, under trying circumstances, stands up to any objective analysis.
"I think against the background of what he's had to deal with - the unavailability of players [through injury] - objectively you look at the results and the team performance and he couldn't have done much better," Parkin said on Carlton's weekly website show The Blue Print on Tuesday.
"No one could have done it any better.
"What I've been most impressed with Brett is the manner in which he's handled himself in the public domain.
"Never has he got rattled, never has he got demoralised in any shape or form. He's been very positive about what the team is doing and his belief has become a reality.
"There is absolutely no doubt that if you're going to judge him on whether they're playing for him - they are playing for him.
"Whatever we might think about whether he can coach or not, they are playing for him, and that is the fundamental ask of every coach … to have your playing group supporting you, and they are."
After recovering from a 6-7 record midway through the season, Parkin is confident the Blues can defeat Gold Coast and St Kilda to not only make the eight, but also be a danger to those teams that finish inside the top four.
"They'd be very pleased to see Carlton not make it - I've got no doubt about that," he said.
"I'm proud of the way that they've stuck at it when they've been undermanned … they've not only given everything and won games that they probably shouldn't have won, but they've also found some very good young kids along the way."
Ratten came under increasing pressure as the losses mounted during the middle part of the season as injuries and poor form eroded the confidence of the playing group.
He drew particular criticism for his demonstrative manner while coaching from the bench during that period and Parkin revealed he had advised Ratten to move back up to the coach's box.
"I must admit I had a bit of a niggle in his ear," he said.
"The fact is that the bloke who is the captain of the ship … gets up on the bridge and runs it - he doesn't go down in the engine room and pour the oil into the engines.
"I used that analogy to him. I'm not saying that I convinced him to go back up [to the coach's box], but if you're going to control the show you've got to be in a position to see what's going on."
