Carlton chief executive Greg Swann admitted on Wednesday that Blues coach Brett Ratten is likely to win a contract extension sooner rather than later following his impressive first full season in charge of the club.
Unlike the AFL's other new coaches this season in Essendon's Matthew Knights, Melbourne's Dean Bailey and Fremantle's Mark Harvey - Ratten was only given a two-year contract instead of a three-year deal.
Yet he has been the best performed of the AFL's new coaches, steering the Blues to 11th place with 10 wins from 21 games and seemingly leaving the club poised next year to reach the finals for the first time since 2001.
And what has made Ratten's performance even more impressive is it comes after Carlton has finished in the bottom two in five of the past six seasons, prior to this year.
Swann admitted on Wednesday the club had already held preliminary talks about extending Ratten's contract in light of his performance as coach this season - after taking over late last season from the axed Denis Pagan.
"We spoke about it yesterday and at the end of the season we do a review like we do every other year and part of that is what we do with the senior coach," Swann said.
"And we will be certainly looking very favourably at extending Brett's contract because the club has improved tremendously and we think there is more improvement to come so that (extending Ratten's contract) will be done in due course."
Ratten, a former Carlton captain, admits he is comfortable with the present situation of next season being the last year of his contract but ideally would love to get a contract extension.
"I think it would be great," he said.
"But I am not really worried about until the year is finished."
"If the club thinks I deserve an extension I would love to get one but we will sit down and see what happens."
Ratten's focus at present is to ensure the Blues finish off their best season since 2001 in style by beating second-placed Hawthorn at Telstra Dome on Saturday night.
And while there is little at stake for either team - with the Hawks assured of a top-four finish and the Blues out of finals contention regardless of the result - it could be an historic night with Hawks spearhead Lance Franklin going into the game on 98 goals and Carlton spearhead Brendan Fevola going in on 92.
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