Why the 'caretaker effect' should not worry the Bulldogs

The ‘caretaker effect’ has not been overly positive in recent times.

St Kilda head into this weekend’s clash with the Western Bulldogs in a strange yet not unprecedented position.

Following Alan Richardson’s departure on Tuesday, the Saints will take on the Dogs at Marvel Stadium on Sunday with Brett Ratten in the role as caretaker coach.

This particular scenario has fared well for clubs this year but the recent record bodes a bit better for the Dogs than it does the Saints.

In David Teague’s first game in charge of Carlton in Round 12, the Blues defeated top four hopefuls the Brisbane Lions.

A week earlier, North Melbourne made the dream start under Rhyce Shaw when comfortably accounting for Richmond.

In 2019, the caretaker record is 2-0.

However, the history of interim coaches overseeing immediate wins over the past two decades sits at just 45%. The record is 11 wins and 13 losses from 24 matches.

Even more recently, since 2010, there have been 13 games involving a caretaker coach, yielding five wins and eight losses for a 38% winning strike rate.

This does not include when an assistant has stepped in to fill the void when the coach has either been injured, unwell or unavailable.

There could be a perception that clubs with a caretaker coach go out and get the job done first-up but this snapshot will certainly not unsettle Luke Beveridge and the Bulldogs as they look to keep in touch with the top eight by inflicting a fifth straight defeat on the Saints.

Furthermore, Ratten lost his other game as caretaker when he replaced Denis Pagan at Carlton back in 2007.

Caretaker stats (since 2001)
GAMES: 24
WINS: 11
LOSSES: 13
WIN %: 45.8

Caretaker stats (since 2010)
GAMES: 13
WINS: 5
LOSSES: 8
WIN %: 38.5

Caretaker results from 2019 back to 2001

2019
Rhyce Shaw (North Melbourne) - Round 11 - WIN
David Teague (Carlton) - Round 12 - WIN

2017
Dean Solomon (Gold Coast) - Round 21 - LOSS

2015
John Barker (Carlton) - Round 9 - LOSS
Matthew Egan (Essendon) - Round 21 - LOSS

2013
Neil Craig (Melbourne) - Round 13 - LOSS
Mark Harvey (Brisbane) - Round 21 - WIN
Simon Goodwin (Essendon) - Round 23 - LOSS

2012
Garry Hocking (Port Adelaide) - Round 20 - LOSS

2011
Mark Bickley (Adelaide) - Round 19 - WIN
Todd Viney (Melbourne) - Round 20 - LOSS
Paul Williams (Western Bulldogs) - Round 22 - WIN

2010
Matthew Primus (Port Adelaide) - Round 16 - LOSS

2009
Jade Rawlings (Richmond) - Round 12 - WIN
Darren Crocker (North Melbourne) - Round 13 - LOSS

2007
Mark Riley (Melbourne) - Round 14 - WIN
Mark Harvey (Fremantle) - Round 16 - WIN
Brett Ratten (Carlton) - Round 17 - LOSS

2004
Donald McDonald (Hawthorn) - Round 18 - LOSS
Neil Craig (Adelaide) - Round 14 - WIN

2002
Paul Roos (Sydney) - Round 13 - WIN
Peter Rohde (Western Bulldogs) - Round 22 - WIN

2001
Ben Allan (Fremantle) - Round 10 - LOSS
Grant Thomas (St Kilda) - Round 16 - LOSS

More in AFL