Carlton coach Brett Ratten says he feels sorry for Mark Harvey after the Fremantle coach was sensationally axed from his post despite having a year to run on his AFL coaching contract.

The Dockers confirmed on Friday that Ross Lyon has been appointed as Harvey's replacement for the next four seasons.

Lyon only quit his position as coach at St Kilda on Thursday despite being contracted for the 2012 season.

"I heard about it (Harvey's axing) lastnight when we got off the plane," Ratten said ahead of Saturday night's semi-final clash with West Coast in Perth.

"You really feel sorry for Mark, how it's happened.

"When you go in to plan and do all these things going forward and then have your job removed from you so quickly, it's a real hard one for him to take and I feel sorry for him.

"Hopefully he's all right. I'll give him a call in a week or two to see how it's travelling.

"But footy's just such a brutal game. I think it's a message to us all that it can change very quickly."

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