‘Extraordinary’ vision why Bombers coach Ben Rutten has ‘got to go’

Ben Rutten’s time as Essendon coach appears to be almost over after his players’ actions appeared to show he’d completely lost the room.

Rutten is a dead man walking. Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

The drums are still beating for Essendon coach Ben Rutten after a wild day where he seemingly held onto his job by the skin of his teeth.

But while he wasn’t sacked on a wild Monday which saw club president Paul Brasher quit his role in the wake of the 84-point loss to Port Adelaide, plenty believe Rutten is as good as gone.

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Rumours swirled of Rutten being removed for an eleventh hour play at four-time premiership winning coach Alastair Clarkson, who was reportedly set to sign a five-year deal at North Melbourne.

However, despite Bombers CEO Xavier Campbell confirming “Ben is still our coach” after the board meeting on Monday, Port Adelaide Hall of Famer Kane Cornes told Channel 9’s Footy Classified Rutten has “got to go”.

Cornes showed vision of Essendon defender Nick Hind going to the bench and looking for anywhere to sit but next to Rutten.

The smoking gun at Essendon. Photo: Channel 9

When he is forced next to the coach, Hind refused to look at him.

“You ask whether the players have checked out – this is Round 20. I’m not sure I’ve seen vision of a player treating a coach like this,” Cornes said on Nine’s Footy Classified.

“He doesn’t want to sit next to Ben Rutten, Rutten says no sit here.

“He’s trying to give him some feedback, some positive reinforcement, and the disengagement of Nick Hind on the interchange bench here – he can’t even look at him here.

“The players have clearly checked out and their on-field actions are displaying that.”

Cornes said the easy goals showed “why he’s got to go”, adding “no coach can survive efforts like this”.

"I'm not sure I've seen vision of a player treating a coach like this."@kanecornes on the vision that shows how Bomber players have 'checked out' and why Ben Rutten's time appears to be up. #9FootyClassified | Watch on @Channel9pic.twitter.com/wSVHdIeNJO

— Footy on Nine (@FootyonNine) August 15, 2022

Veteran AFL journalist Caroline Wilson said: “It is extraordinary. It is devastating for Ben Rutten. It has been an incredible season for him. I still find it extraordinary – it’s taken this long for Essendon to have a crack at Alastair Clarkson and only he can save them now from a massive embarrassment.”

On Monday, Campbell confirmed he had not spoken to Clarkson over the role but the club was launching an immediate review, the second in a matter of months.

Nine’s Tony Jones reported however Clarkson had met with the club on Monday however,

“Sources have confirmed to me in the past few moments Essendon did meet with Alastair Clarkson and his manager today,” Jones confirmed to 9 News on Monday night.

Clarkson is the AFL’s most wanted man. Picture: Brendan Beckett

Bombers legend Matthew Lloyd said he believed going after Clarkson would be the best move for Essendon.

Lloyd believes Rutten will not survive the upcoming external review.

“My opinion is on what I saw and what I’ve seen across the year that I wouldn’t go with Ben Rutten next year,” Lloyd said on 3AW’s Sportsday.

“He’s (Alastair Clarkson) the best candidate out there. I did say two months ago, ‘why aren’t Essendon in this race’.

“Alastair is quite a confronting person because he will come in (and do things his own way), but to me, that is what this football club needs.

“They’ve made little minor adjustments, but at the end of the day, it doesn’t get the club anywhere.”