Ratten bemoans poor St Kilda performance as COVID threat grows for clubs

St Kilda coach Brett Ratten was left searching for answers after the club put in an abysmal performance against the Western Bulldogs that all but ended their chances of making finals.

The recently re-signed coach revealed the pressure was one of their key performance indicators heading into the game, but the Saints could only manage 12 tackles to half-time with 16 players yet to lay a tackle at that point.

Brett Ratten could not explain why St Kilda’s pressure was so poor with a finals spot on the line.Credit:Getty

He said they “went into their shell” after taking kicks that were outside the gameplan and which led to turnover goals to the Bulldogs, setting them on their way with the first seven goals of the match.

Ratten said they were trying to find the right mix of players to address the issue that has seen them lose five of their past six matches, potentially plunging to 12th after this round after being in the top four after round 11.

“We’re running out of time [to make finals] very quickly,” Ratten said.

“Around the clearances when the game was up for grabs, they dominated us.”

The Saints are also likely to be without key player Paddy Ryder for their match against West Coast after he was subbed off with soreness in his Achilles as Ratten bemoaned a lack of contributors.

He singled out Zak Jones for a poor first half that saw him manage just five touches and said the team’s decision-making was off.

Meanwhile, the COVID threat has become very real for AFL clubs pushing to make finals as Western Bulldogs’ coach Luke Beveridge revealed the effect of the virus on their club heading into Friday night’s game.

They lost key trio Aaron Naughton, Josh Schache and Lachie Hunter and were without coaches Matt Spangher and Travis Varcoe, as well as welfare officer Brent Prismall, who is normally on the interchange bench. Zaine Cordy was also unavailable for selection due to COVID-19.

The growing threat to player and coach availability heading towards finals is an issue for all clubs, with nine players out of round 18 teams and Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley unable to coach against Melbourne.

“The boys are smart enough to know what the boundaries are now in this climate. Even in the club we are starting to wear masks again and that the people who are in rooms, there is some common sense around it,” Beveridge said.

Club CEOs were reminded this week that the team who manages COVID well will put themselves in a good position to win the flag.

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