Former St Kilda coach Brett Ratten has fired back at comments made by Saints legend Nick Riewoldt over his suggestion standards at the club were "sub-par" under Ratten's tenure.
Ratten, who is the current interim coach at North Melbourne, did not mince his words hitting back at Riewoldt, the former Saints skipper.
"I can promise you now, the standards in that joint (St Kilda) over the last however long have been sub-par," Riewoldt said on the Footy Talk podcast.
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Current St Kilda coach Ross Lyon returned to Linton Street and took over from Ratten at the start of 2023.
"They have absolutely gone forward this year," Riewoldt said of the club's standards under Lyon.
Ratten, who was axed by the Saints in October despite signing a two-year contract extension just months earlier, made himself heard on Wednesday.
"The only time he (Riewoldt) came was for free physio, that's the only time he was at the club, so I don't know where he saw those standards," Ratten said.
"What can happen at footy clubs, and in life, is second-hand information can be distributed in the way (people) want.
"That's his opinion, I can't change it."
It comes as North Melbourne announced the return date of coach Alastair Clarkson on Wednesday, confirming he will take over from Ratten in Round 21.
"I knew through this period, I didn't know when, but 'Clarko' was coming back," Ratten said.
"I knew it was going to come to an end and now it's a couple of weeks away.
But the interim coach has taken a positive spin on his short tenure, saying the clarity from North Melbourne makes his exit easier.
"I didn't get the chance last time to say goodbye (at St Kilda) and this is a good opportunity to just enjoy the last couple of weeks," he said.
North Melbourne face Ratten's old side St Kilda on Sunday at Marvel Stadium.
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