Essendon coach Ben Rutten remains in his role – for now – after two board meetings in the space of 24 hours and a push by some at the club to sack him and pursue Alastair Clarkson.
Rutten’s future was thrown into serious doubt on Monday as 3AW radio host Neil Mitchell claimed the former Crows defender would not train in the final round of the season, to be replaced by assistant Daniel Giansiracusa.
However, Essendon CEO Xavier Campbell said outside club headquarters this afternoon: “Ben is our coach,” despite a disappointing 7-14 season that hit a low point on Sunday when he capitulate by 84 points against Port Adelaide.
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Campbell added that board discussions will continue this week with further analysis of the football program.
“There are ongoing discussions at board level. They will continue this week,” he told reporters.
“I haven’t spoken to Alastair Clarkson.”
Change has come to the club with Essendon chairman Paul Brasher stepping down on Sunday, ahead of the loss to the Power, with former media executive David Barham expected to replace him.
Brasher resigned at a board meeting on Sunday and another was held on Monday amid a row over the decision to carry out an internal review of the club’s disappointing season, rather than an external one. Barham supported an external review.
Plundering Rutten on a one-year contract would have allowed the Bombers to pursue Alastair Clarkson, who is reported to be days away from making a call to his next club, with North Melbourne seen as his likely destination.
Many inside and outside Essendon were calling for the club to formalize a plan to seek Clarkson as its next senior coach.
On Sunday night, Fox Footy analyst David King said the Bombers would “regret” the decision not to pursue Clarkson if they decide not to.
Essendon Press Conference | 03:59
The Bombers have a 7-14 win-loss record in 2022 heading into their final regular season game against Richmond on Saturday night.
Brasher had indicated he would step down at the end of the year at the start of the season.
“I think you’ll see a real improvement in the second half of the year,” he said at the time.
“We don’t want honorable losses. We’re happy with the effort, but that’s the baseline and we’re looking to improve on that and not make light of losing on good sides by narrow margins.”
Dud bombers pumped by Port | 01:39
Rutten criticized his team’s “shameful effort” after fans booed the players at Marvel Stadium on Sunday.
“They were bitterly disappointed,” he said.
“It was the kind of game that our members and fans who came to the game or who were watching on TV … it’s not the kind of thing they should be seeing.
“It was a disgraceful effort from our guys. It’s not something we want to stand for and it’s not something our members and supporters should have to see at any time.”
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Firefighters coach Ben Rutten after their big loss at Marvel Stadium against the Port Adelaide Power on August 14, 2022 in Melbourne. Photo: Getty Images Source: Getty Images
Brasher has been unwavering in his support behind Rutten, but with the president gone, the coach’s future has become uncertain.
Clarkson has received formal offers from Greater Western Sydney and North Melbourne, with the Kangaroos handing in a five-year contract for the respected coach.
The former Hawks coach was said to want to make his decision early this week, but a late push from the Bombers could mean Clarkson wants more time to make up his mind.
On Sunday, Kangaroos great David King hit out at the Bombers for not making a serious play on Clarkson.
“For six months, if not 12 months, Alastair Clarkson has been sitting idle ready to be snapped up by a football club,” King told First Crack.
“Why hasn’t Essendon taken that step?
“Now they lack system, lack motivation and lack standards as a football club and I think the Essendon faithful are fed up with that.
“Why are they playing a coach who is still developing when there is the absolute finished product?
“Okay, you have to jump through a lot of hoops to get over the line, but if (Clarkson) signs for North Melbourne this week and Essendon could have got him with the list they have right now, I think it’s a mistake they’ll regret for years”.
Dons fans heard blows from players | 00:46
King criticized the Bombers for not turning up and said some of the players were not playing to “AFL standard”.
“That’s Essendon in a nutshell,” lamented King.
“How lax is that? Look at them just standing, roaming. That’s the forward 50. There’s 10 players within range of that stop. That (style of play) isn’t going anywhere.
“At the moment I don’t understand what they are looking at when they review the games if this is the result of a weekend.
“We can only judge actions put in front of us, that’s not the standard of the AFL.”