HAWTHORN assistant coach Brett Ratten has returned to work after the tragic death of his son Cooper, and will take his place in the coach's box for Saturday's clash with the Brisbane Lions.

Ratten and son Tanner joined the Hawks on Friday as they travelled to Launceston ahead of the round 22 game.

The Ratten family was rocked by the tragic car accident that claimed the life of Cooper, 16, nearly two weeks ago.

The popular assistant returned to the club on Thursday to help the coaching team with preparation for Saturday's game.

Ratten's return is timely, given the Hawks lost another assistant in Brendon Bolton to the Carlton senior job this week.

"It's good for him to get back into some sort of routine, and they're very, very sad circumstances but at some point in time it's really good for him and his family that he gets back into the fold of a footy club," coach Alastair Clarkson said on Friday.

"There's no better environment than a footy club to get yourself back into the swing of things."

Both of the other boys have been charged by police.
What a stupid waste of a young life and the lives of the other 2 will never be the same.