Ben Rutten heads the betting as the man to coach the Crows after Don Pyke’s resignation
Former Crows defender Ben Rutten, who was an assistant coach at Richmond when they defeated Adelaide in 2017, is the early favourite to replace Don Pyke.
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Adelaide will undergo an extensive search for its next coach following Don Pyke’s resignation and has to weigh up whether to opt for another first-timer or an experienced mentor.
The Crows’ past four senior coaching appointments — Pyke, Phil Walsh, Brenton Sanderson and Neil Craig — were all new to the AFL hot seat and they could again choose to go down that path, particularly if bookmakers were anything to go by.
Former Adelaide full-back Ben Rutten was on Thursday the favourite to replace Pyke in 2020 and return to West Lakes after five years in Victoria.
Rutten, who played 229 games for the Crows from 2003-14, was a defensive coach at Richmond for four years, including for its 2017 premiership, before joining Essendon as team defence and key-position mentor this season.
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He was a $3 favourite with Ladbrokes, ahead of Scott Burns ($3.50), an untried Hawthorn assistant who was in the running for the Adelaide job in 2011 when it appointed Sanderson.
The Crows have not chosen someone with experience in the top job since Gary Ayres in 2000 but two of this year’s other axed coaches, Brad Scott ($15) and Ross Lyon ($5.50), and ex-Brisbane boss Michael Voss ($4.50) are others whose names will be raised as contenders.
Recently departed Crow Richard Douglas believed the club needed an adaptable senior coach who could predict game trends while being in sync with the squad.
“You need to have a hard edge to you but also be able to wrap your arms around players and relate to them on a deeper, personal level,” Douglas told FIVEaa.
“It’s a really important thing and particularly young guys coming through crave that … someone they can talk to and trust.”
Scott, who parted ways with North Melbourne mid-season after 10 years, worked with Adelaide’s physiotherapist and research scientist Steve Saunders at the Kangaroos, and was guest speaker at Adelaide’s official luncheon in Melbourne in Round 19.
Reports in Melbourne have suggested Scott is closing in on a job with the AFL but it has yet to be officially confirmed.
Lyon was axed last month after eight years at Fremantle, which he led to the 2013 grand final after five seasons and two flag deciders at St Kilda.
Others who may be in the mix for the Adelaide job include Collingwood defence mentor and Dockers coaching candidate Justin Longmuir ($13), ex-Crow turned Port Adelaide forwards coach Nathan Bassett ($13), long-time Sydney assistant John Blakey ($17) and another Fremantle contender, Peter Sumich ($10).
The Crows are currently undertaking an external review of their footy department, which they say is not at all linked to Pyke’s departure.
Adelaide will announce the make-up of the panel that will select the club’s new senior coach in coming days.
“This industry demands that you move quickly and the search for a replacement now begins in earnest,” Crows chief executive Andrew Fagan said.
“We will use the learnings and reflections gleaned from the current internal and external reviews to ensure we find the best possible candidate to steer us into a new era.”
CROWS SENIOR COACH
$3 BEN RUTTEN
$3.50 Scott Burns
$4.50 Michael Voss
$5.50 Ross Lyon
$7.50 Scott Camporeale
$9 Jarrad Schofield
$10 Peter Sumich
$11 Brendon Lade
$11 Robert Harvey
$13 Justin Longmuir
$13 Nathan Bassett
$15 Alistair Clarkson
$15 Brad Scott
$15 Dean Solomon
$15 Jade Rawlings
$15 John Barker
$15 Paul Roos
$17 Adam Kingsley
$17 Ben Hart
$17 Blake Caracella
$17 John Blakey
$17 Marty Mattner
$21 Brett Kirk
$21 David Noble
$21 John Worsfold
$21 Leigh Tudor
$21 Mark Bickley
$21 Matthew Nicks
$21 Matthew Scarlett
$21 Sam Mitchell
$26 Steven King
$41 Mark Ricciuto
(Ladbrokes)