How much pressure is St Kilda coach Brett Ratten under heading into 2023?
The Saints held a record of 8-3 before things unravelled this year, losing eight of 11 games after the mid-season break, including embarrassing defeats to Essendon and the Western Bulldogs.
St Kilda finished the year in 10th place with an 11-11 win-loss record and a cast percentage of 99.3.
Despite another failed year, St Kilda put their trust in Ratten, re-signing him for a further two years that will see him stay at Moorabin until the end of 2024.
Considering the Saints have now missed finals two years in a row after making them in 2020, Kane Cornes believes Ratten would be a coach under the most pressure heading into 2023.
“How do you see the pressure on Brett Ratten, they were 8-3 and they really capitulated towards the back end of the season, but he did get that contract extension for a couple of years,” Cornes told AFL Trade Radio.
“But he would be one of the coaches under the most pressure heading into next year.”
Agreeing with Cornes, Essendon great Matthew Lloyd believes the Saints have to make finals next year for Ratten to remain the coach.
“I think they have to play finals you would think for Brett to keep his position the following season,” Lloyd said.
St Kilda announced on Wednesday that veteran football administrator Geoff Walsh has returned to the game in a permanent role as their new football manager.