Essendon Bombers legend Matthew Lloyd calls on club to go hard in pursuit of coaching great Alastair Clarkson

Alastair Clarkson’s confrontational style is exactly what Essendon need to turn their AFL fortunes around, club legend Matthew Lloyd says.

Lloyd does not believe incumbent coach Ben Rutten will survive in the role as the Bombers’ hierarchy launches a late bid for the four-time Hawthorn premiership mastermind.

It comes after an external football department review was announced on Monday and amid changes at board level.

David Barham has replaced Paul Brasher as president, with the latter one of Rutten’s biggest supporters.

The 39-year-old Rutten is nearing the end of his second year as Essendon coach and is contracted for 2023.

But his future in the role could be decided even before the external review, which Barham described as a “line in the sand moment” for the 150-year-old club.

Lloyd backed the push for Clarkson, who is already weighing up an offer from North Melbourne and has been in talks with GWS.

“He’s the best candidate out there,” Lloyd told on Sportsday on Monday night.

“Alastair is quite a confronting person … to me, that is what this football club needs because they’ve made little minor adjustments but at the end of the day it doesn’t get the club anywhere.”

Camera Icon Ben Rutten’s coaching tenure is on the line. Credit: SCOTT BARBOUR/AAPIMAGE

The findings of an internal football department review – the second of its kind in three seasons – were presented to the Essendon board two weeks ago.

It has since been decided that an external review is required.

The Bombers’ board has been split this year between giving Rutten more time and making a change.

“That’s where I admire David Barham because I think he’s pushed and pushed and pushed,” Lloyd said.

“Now he’s become the president and I think he’s one of those ones that’s pushing for change and the external review.”

Asked if he thinks Rutten will remain in his role beyond this season, Lloyd said: “I don’t think he will, no.

“My opinion is, on what I’ve seen this year, I wouldn’t go with Ben Rutten next year.”

Essendon have famously not won a final since 2004, having claimed their most recent premiership four years earlier.

Lloyd, the Coleman Medal winner in that premiership season, said he has been “frustrated for years” but has been buoyed by Barham’s appointment.

“This is the first time that you think things could seriously change for the better,” Lloyd said.

“Obviously you make decisions and you want those decisions to work as a footy club.

“I think Paul Brasher has wanted nothing but the best for the football club.

“He’s a good person but what’s going on at the moment hasn’t worked.”