Williams a 'sore loser'
June 12th 2008 01:04
Who would have thought that an AFL coach could be considered a sore loser? Well, that is what Carlton's Brett Ratten is calling Port Adelaide's Mark Williams after both teams played each other on the weekend.
Williams said Carlton had "hoarded first-round draft picks" in the past few seasons, had 'pinched' had chief executive Greg Swann from Collingwood, and would 'stop at nothing' to achieve success, both on-and-off the field.
With their money and the money that has been at Carlton over the years, they have always had what they want," Williams continued.
But Ratten acted swiftly to rebuff those claims.
"Personally, I didn't think Mark would be such a bad loser, but that's the way it goes," he said.
"I think it's good that people are starting to get back into us and rib us and things like that, but we are just worrying about what we have to do this week.
“He doesn’t have to (apologise); that’s his point of view and that’s the way he sees it. He’ll talk about first-round draft picks (but) I thought every team got a first-round draft pick when they go to the draft.
“Maybe (his comments) might be to deflect what he’s got going on over there.”
Port Adelaide has given up large leads against Hawthorn, Brisbane and Carlton, and is emphasising their 'chokers' tag, something they believed had been vanquaished after their 2004 Premiership glory against the Lions, who were chasing four-straight Premierships.
Ratten said that it was a real positive for his club. He knows that his team can come back from any margin and walk away with the four points.
"It's just refreshing to know that our players, in any situation that they are thrown into, can work their way though it and stick to the team rules and what we put in place at three-quarter time,” he said.
"That was the real pleasing aspect – that players that had been down jumped up and made a contribution.
“At three-quarter time when I walked down to the ground) I copped a few handy sprays there, so you’re sort of looking for those people – ‘where are you now?’ sort of thing.
“But I think it is an emotional game … it’s a little bit all or nothing sometimes. You either walk away from a game with a smile on your face or you’re grumpy for a few days.”
Carlton will play Collingwood on Sunday at the MCG whilst Port will be involved in a rematch of last year's Grand Final, when they take on Geelong at Skilled Stadium.
Williams said Carlton had "hoarded first-round draft picks" in the past few seasons, had 'pinched' had chief executive Greg Swann from Collingwood, and would 'stop at nothing' to achieve success, both on-and-off the field.
With their money and the money that has been at Carlton over the years, they have always had what they want," Williams continued.
But Ratten acted swiftly to rebuff those claims.
"Personally, I didn't think Mark would be such a bad loser, but that's the way it goes," he said.
"I think it's good that people are starting to get back into us and rib us and things like that, but we are just worrying about what we have to do this week.
“He doesn’t have to (apologise); that’s his point of view and that’s the way he sees it. He’ll talk about first-round draft picks (but) I thought every team got a first-round draft pick when they go to the draft.
“Maybe (his comments) might be to deflect what he’s got going on over there.”
Port Adelaide has given up large leads against Hawthorn, Brisbane and Carlton, and is emphasising their 'chokers' tag, something they believed had been vanquaished after their 2004 Premiership glory against the Lions, who were chasing four-straight Premierships.
Ratten said that it was a real positive for his club. He knows that his team can come back from any margin and walk away with the four points.
"It's just refreshing to know that our players, in any situation that they are thrown into, can work their way though it and stick to the team rules and what we put in place at three-quarter time,” he said.
"That was the real pleasing aspect – that players that had been down jumped up and made a contribution.
“At three-quarter time when I walked down to the ground) I copped a few handy sprays there, so you’re sort of looking for those people – ‘where are you now?’ sort of thing.
“But I think it is an emotional game … it’s a little bit all or nothing sometimes. You either walk away from a game with a smile on your face or you’re grumpy for a few days.”
Carlton will play Collingwood on Sunday at the MCG whilst Port will be involved in a rematch of last year's Grand Final, when they take on Geelong at Skilled Stadium.
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