Rats may help sink ship But Clarkson underplays importance of ex-blues coach in plotting victory
HAWTHORN coach Alastair Clarkson is playing down the role of ex-Carlton coach Brett Ratten in plotting the downfall of the Blues in Friday’s AFL clash.
Clarkson’s Hawks have a 9-1 win-loss record and will regain top spot ahead of Geelong if they can beat Mick Malthouse’s Blues in their round-12 encounter at Etihad Stadium.
Malthouse has guided seventh-placed Carlton to a 6-5 start and critics have pointed out Ratten achieved the same mark in 2012 in his last season in charge of the Blues.
‘‘He is (helpful) about their players individually,’’ Clarkson said yesterday.
‘‘But Carlton are a very, very different side now that Mick is there.
‘‘This isn’t about Brett Ratten. This is about the Hawthorn footy club playing Carlton. ‘‘Rats’’ has been a great footy person, both as a player and as a coach. We’re fortunate to have him on our side at the moment.
‘‘But it’s more about us as a club versus their whole club.’’
While Clarkson is confident the Hawks are ready for battle despite the potential loss of rhythm caused by last week’s bye, he admits the Blues will be smarting from their fivepoint loss in round 11.
‘‘They probably should have won last week’s game against Essendon,’’ Clarkson said.
‘‘They’ll be keen to atone and we need to make sure we’re ready for that.’’
Carlton face a daunting task to overcome the Hawks, who are on a nine-game winning streak and haven’t lost to the Blues since 2005.
But Clarkson is wary of the danger posed by Carlton’s Jarrad Waite, who produced a seven-goal haul last week.
‘‘ He was terrific against Essendon and nearly singlehandedly won them the game,’’ Clarkson said.
Clarkson nominated Brian Lake, Josh Gibson and Ben Stratton as possible opponents for the Blues’ spearhead.
Carlton’s dual Brownlow Medallist Chris Judd will play his 250th game on Friday night.
‘‘He has been captain at both clubs. He’s a very, very decorated figure in our game,’’ Clarkson said.
Hawthorn’s star small forward Cyril Rioli resumed training yesterday following a hamstring injury in round five against North Melbourne on April 28. He’s tipped to return in round 14.
‘‘We just want to make sure we get it right. We’ve been fortunate we’ve been able to win games of footy without him,’’ Clarkson said.
Carlton’s Chris Judd knows why Hawthorn have dominated his AFL club like no other in recent years and believes the Blues finally have the game plan to break that hold.
There are just two clubs Judd hasn’t beaten in a Carlton jumper. One is Greater Western Sydney, because he hasn’t played them.
The other is Hawthorn, because they’ve dominated the Blues for eight years.
It’s that record and the Hawks’ standing as premiership favourites that makes tonight’s Etihad Stadium clash so significant, Judd believes, rather than any need to respond to last Friday night’s fade- out loss to Essendon.
‘‘If we’re going to improve, they’re the teams that we’ve got to come out and play well against and be able to beat,’’ Judd told reporters yesterday.
‘‘It’s a huge challenge for our group.
‘‘I’ve never played in a Carlton jumper and beaten the Hawks – so it’s a massive challenge.’’
Judd says some important advances under Mick Malthouse this season have given Carlton confidence they’re finally capable of turning the tables.
‘‘We’ve improved a lot of aspects of our game, particularly playing against counterattack teams,’’ he said.