AFL news 2022: Ben Rutten keeping job at Essendon, sacked, coach, Alastair Clarkson, Kevin Sheedy theory, North Melbourne to Tasmania

Essendon coach Ben Rutten says he hasn’t been seeking assurance from club higher-ups about his role amid a board coup that has seen Alastair Clarkson sought out by the club.

The Bombers boss, who is contracted until the end of the 2023 season, told reporters on Tuesday evening he expects to remain in his role for next year.

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It comes as Essendon board member and club legend Kevin Sheedy says he “hopes” Rutten coaches the side this week given “he’s on a contract”.

Sheedy reportedly voted for the coup which saw media executive Dave Barham become president on Monday, replacing Paul Brasher, with Barham said to be less supportive of Rutten than Brasher was.

Asked whether he expected Rutten to lead out the Bombers against Richmond in the final round of the season, Sheedy told 5AA radio: “I’d hope so, ‘cause he’s on a contract.”

“That’s not true (that Rutten has already been sacked). All I can say is that the president, who’s new at Essendon, that’s his decision wholly along with members of the club.

“As far as we know and I know, he’s got a contract.”

Sheedy neither confirmed nor denied reports club higher-ups had already spoken with Alastair Clarkson about replacing Rutten.

Clarkson has reportedly told Essendon he would be interested in coaching them if the job became available.

“I don’t know, I haven’t (spoken to him), I can assure you of that,” Sheedy said.

“They could’ve, I’ll be honest I’d have no idea. But if they have it won’t be our CEO and it won’t be our staff because they’re locked in on trying to get everything ready for this game so we won’t embarrass ourselves like last week.

“I have no idea, I wouldn’t have thought so at the present time but that’s the way I see it.”

Essendon coaching legend and board member Kevin Sheedy. (AAP Image/Michael Dodge)Source: AAP

Asked about his own view on Clarkson, Sheedy suggested North Melbourne – the other suitor for the four-time premiership coach’s services – would make sense.

He even floated the possibility Clarkson could help relocate the club to Tasmania.

“I think Clarkson could be perfect moving into North Melbourne, I wouldn’t be surprised, take ‘em down to Tasmania,” Sheedy said.

“You don’t know what’s in other people’s thinking, do you?

“He’s been locked into Tasmania with the state government, and because everyone wants North Melbourne to move because we’ve got too many teams here … too many teams in Melbourne, most people in Australia think that we do, so you just never know if Alastair says I’m looking a bit bigger picture than just going to coach a team in Melbourne.

“It could even involve Tasmania, you just don’t know.”