CARLTON coach Brett Ratten has branded Mark Williams 'a bad loser' following the Port Adelaide coach's comments in the aftermath of Sunday's come-from-behind win by the Blues.
Williams said Carlton had "hoarded first-round draft picks" in the past few seasons, had 'pinched' chief executive Greg Swann from Collingwood, and would 'stop at nothing' to achieve success.
"With their money and the money that has been at Carlton over the years, they have always had what they want," he said.
Ratten's response was blunt.
"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 has given up large leads in matches against the Brisbane Lions, Hawthorn and Carlton this season, which has revived the ‘chokers’ tag; an uncharitable characterisation that appeared to have been laid to rest after the 2004 premiership.
Ratten said the seven goals to nil final term that saw his side take the points at AAMI Stadium was extremely satisfying given the across the board effort he received from his players, with Chris Judd leading from the front.
"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.”
The team appears set to be further boosted by the return of first-choice full-back Michael Jamison from a shoulder injury for this weekend’s blockbuster against Collingwood.
“In the last five or six weeks they’ve been the form team of the competition, up there with the Bulldogs and maybe even ahead of them. They’ve beaten Geelong by 86 points; they’re in really good form,” he said.
“You look across their team and you think they’ve still got to bring back Pendlebury and Rocca.
“I thought maybe round four for us was a blockbuster when we were 0-3. That meant a lot to us then and it still means a hell of a lot.
“We need to get another win to keep [within] a fingertip of the top eight and keep in contact, so it is an important game for us.”
