St Kilda have locked in former senior coach Brett Ratten as an assistant to under-pressure boss Alan Richardson.
The Saints have shaken up their ranks in an effort to improve their on-field fortunes, including the move for the ex-Carlton coach.
Andrew Bassat was announced this week as the club's next president, and former AFL executive Simon Lethlean has just finished his first year in charge of the club's football department.
There's been no move on Richardson, who is contracted until 2020, despite the team recording seven fewer wins in 2018 than last season.
Instead, the Saints' squad of assistants has been rebuilt around the senior coach.
Ratten joins Brendon Lade as incoming backroom support to Richardson, with Simon McPhee, Rohan Welsh and Lindsay Gilbee departing Moorabbin.
Ratten, 47, has spent the last six seasons at Hawthorn, helping Alastair Clarkson compile three flags.
"Brett is one of the most experienced assistant coaches in the game and we look forward to the impact he can have on our football program," Lethlean said.
"He is highly regarded across the football industry and, as midfield coach at the Hawks, was obviously a key driver in their premiership success."
History has looked favourably upon Ratten's time at Carlton, despite his unceremonious axing as coach in 2012 after five full seasons.
He is the only Blues coach to have recorded more wins than losses in a season since 2001.
His arrival could be interpreted as an insurance policy should Richardson fail to return St Kilda to winning ways.
But he is far from the only boss to take on assistant duties after the end of a senior coaching role.
Brenton Sanderson (formerly of Adelaide, now at Collingwood), Mark Harvey (Fremantle to Essendon), Matthew Knights (Essendon to Geelong), Matthew Primus (Port Adelaide to Gold Coast), Brendan McCartney (Western Bulldogs to Melbourne), Michael Voss (Brisbane to Port Adelaide) and Justin Leppitsch (Brisbane to Richmond) are all ex-senior coaches currently in full-time assistant roles.
Ratten will join the Saints at the end of the Hawks' final series.
Hawthorn football boss Graham Wright said Brett was "fully committed" to their forthcoming finals campaign and would leave the club on good terms at the end of the finals.
The Saints are also rejuvenating their playing stocks, delisting Nathan Wright, Hugh Goddard, Nathan Freeman and rookie Ray Connellan this week ahead of further changes.
