Brett Ratten may be the AFL’s latest sacked coach but his reputation as a man has never been higher.
For the second time in four days, the Carlton great handled himself with dignity and class as his five-year reign as Blues coach ended.
Carlton gave Ratten the option of sitting out the media conference on Sunday after his last game in charge ended with a spiteful 15-point loss to St Kilda.
But he faced journalists for nearly 20 minutes, ducking nothing.
It had been the same last Thursday when Carlton formally announced what everyone had expected.
The Blues say that is simply a reflection of how Ratten has responded to his dismissal.
Asked whether he was proud of how he had carried himself over the past few days, Ratten paid tribute to his parents.
“That’s sometimes a reflection of your parents and my Mum and Dad … now you are going to get me upset,” Ratten said.
“My Mum and Dad are just bloody beauties and they have great work ethic, I couldn’t have any better role models growing up.”
Carlton provided a private box at the game for Ratten’s family.
While the Blues fans applauded him throughout the game, Ratten decided not to go out onto the ground to acknowledge them after the final siren.
“I’m just a passing piece of history at our football club now,” he said.
“I really appreciate what they (fans) were trying to do, but … I didn’t want to make it about me.
“We lost the game of football.”
Ratten also said in his media conference that he would write a letter to each player, reflecting on their time together.
He repeated his enthusiasm to continue as an AFL coach and was asked if the media had treated him unfairly.
“It is what it is … it’s not how far you fall, it’s how high you bounce,” he said.
There is also no room for bitterness.
“Where does that side of it get you in life?,” he said.
“It’s a good lesson for all of us – you actually have to take responsibility.
“I have some things to work on as a coach and how I do things.”
Ratten also had no doubt that he would coach this last game.
“Why hide? I’ve done nothing wrong,” he said.
He jokingly referred to Carlton’s inaccurate score of 12.19 when asked if there were any emotional moments in his final game.
“There were probably 19 moments that had a downward spiral,” he said.