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Brett Ratten will return to Hawthorn as the head of coaching performance and development to support Sam Mitchell in Mitchell\u2019s third year as senior coach.<\/p>\n
Two sources at Hawthorn with knowledge of the appointment, who were not authorised to speak publicly, confirmed to this masthead that Ratten would be back at the club where he served as an assistant under Alastair Clarkson for the 2008 premiership and the three-peat from 2013-15.<\/p>\n
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Brett Ratten has joined the Hawks.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>AFL Photos<\/cite><\/p>\n Ratten was previously a senior coach at Carlton and St Kilda and has just finished up in an interim role at the Kangaroos, where he coached while Clarkson took a break to focus on his physical and mental wellbeing in May.<\/p>\n Ratten coached 10 games during that period, taking his total games coached tally to 198.<\/p>\n \u201cStepping in as interim coach gave me the opportunity to say goodbye to senior coaching which is something I\u2019m grateful for,\u201d Ratten had said when he departed Arden Street.<\/p>\n \u201cIn terms of what the future looks like, I\u2019m not sure yet. I love the game and I\u2019m certainly open to new opportunities.\u201d<\/p>\n Ratten, a premiership player with Carlton, developed a strong relationship with Mitchell during his time at Hawthorn previously.<\/p>\n There were a number of clubs in the running for Ratten\u2019s services, including Richmond, where new coach Adam Yze indicated he was hopeful of adding Ratten to his staff.<\/p>\n Keep up to date with the best AFL coverage in the country. <\/i><\/b>Sign up for the Real Footy newsletter<\/i><\/b>.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\nMost Viewed in Sport<\/h2>\n