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The AFL Coaches Association is in contact with embattled Essendon coach Ben Rutten as speculation continues to swirl around his future.
Rutten, contracted until the end of 2023, has been left in the dark about his future by the club, which is actively pursuing Alastair Clarkson to replace him.
Speaking to foxfooty.com.au, AFLCA CEO Alistair Nicholson said the body was actively monitoring Rutten’s situation.
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“Obviously the situation is really challenging right now,” he said.
“Our priority this week has been to offer support for Ben and the broader coaching group whilst we try to work through exactly what this situation is with the complexity of what it is at the moment.”
Multiple senior coaches have taken aim at the treatment of Rutten, which is something Nicholson has been impressed wtih.
“The fact there’s senior coaches showing empathy publicly for Ben is heartening. What it does show overall is just the vulnerability of the AFL senior coach and how it is such a high-pressure environment.
“I think once this is settled, it’s important that the industry look into how we can better do it into the future.”
Nicholson also confirmed the AFLCA has been in contact with Rutten throughout the tumultuous week.
“We’ve spoken, one of our representatives have been out there … he’s just trying to hang in there, that is the message, he’s just hanging in,” he said.
“He’s probably enjoyed throwing himself into training, but outside that the attention has been challenging.”
Premiership-winning Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin gave the Essendon hierarchy a serve for the lack of respect shown to his former teammate in Rutten this week.
“I’m a mate of Ben, I’ve reached out to Ben,” he said.
“It’s a really tough situation. To be honest, I think we all sit here as coaches and we look at that situation and the one thing you want in our industry is respect and I don’t think Ben has been afforded that.
“I think it’s been pretty poor how he’s been treated. Hopefully, he comes out the other side.
“But he’s shown enormous dignity in the way he has gone about his business. He’s given four years of incredible service to that footy club and our industry.
“He’s a great person and a great coach and I just hope he comes out the other side and he’s treated the right way.”
No one from Essendon has made a public statement yet about Rutten’s future amid growing expectation he won’t coach the club in 2023.
– with NCA Newswire, Russell Gould
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