Cap consequences have Bombers hesitant about Rutten call as Clarko deadline approaches

Essendon midfielder Zach Merrett believes Ben Rutten was “strong and courageous” to show up for work on Tuesday amid rampant speculation about his job, saying the Bombers coach had the respect of the playing group for addressing the “elephant in the room”.

The Bombers’ board, led by new president David Barham after Paul Brasher stepped down earlier this week, met on Tuesday to discuss the club’s sensational pursuit of Alastair Clarkson and, subsequently, Rutten’s immediate future — although a decision on the latter was not forthcoming.

It comes as the Giants and Clarkson agreed a union wouldn’t occur, while North Melbourne gave the coaching mastermind a hard deadline to decide whether he wanted to be its next coach amid Essendon’s bold 11th-hour pursuit, which was prompted by the board upheaval.

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It means Rutten, who’s contracted to Essendon until the end of 2023, is now more likely to be in the coaches’ box for the club’s Saturday night clash against Richmond at the MCG.

While Rutten hasn’t been dismissed, his position is far less secure now compared to when Brasher was in charge. The Age reported the Bombers’ hierarchy had been cautious to make a call on Rutten’s future as they would have to consider the payout logistics of terminating his contract, as well as the contracts of other Bombers staffers as a Clarkson arrival would almost certainly see him bring his own cohort of assistants. Those payouts, according to The Age, might force the club to exceed the soft cap and pay tax to the AFL.

With Clarkson’s shadow looming large, a stoic Rutten was at the club’s headquarters on Tuesday and took training, telling reporters he had “the confidence of the players” and “a job to do”.

Essendon coach Ben Rutten at training on Tuesday morning as rumours swirl he will be sacked by season’s end. Picture: Ian CurrieSource: News Corp Australia

The Age reported Rutten opened his address to the Bombers’ playing group “with a self-deprecating joke” before “getting down to business”.

Speaking on Fox Footy’s AFL 360 on Tuesday night, Merrett said Essendon players had great respect and sympathy for their coach.

“I thought he was pretty strong and courageous to show up, chest out, ready to help us prepare to play against Richmond on Saturday night,” Merrett told AFL 360.

“He didn‘t shy away from the fact, he was open, he brought it up. I won’t go into detail of what he said but he brought it up, the elephant in the room, and chatted through the situation and I think players respected that.

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“I think the common theme in the room was players feeling sorry that we’re in this position and he was in a position. I think he’s guarded us throughout the year with some really poor games and taking responsibility personally and to get to this point is largely on us as players so that’s the disappointing part.”

With the Giants pulling out of the race — Demons assistant Adem Yze is now seen as the No. 1 contender ahead of Richmond’s Adam Kingsley and interim Giants coach Mark McVeigh — Clarkson’s decision is now between two clubs: The Bombers and the Kangaroos. Reports emerged on Tuesday Clarkson had told the Bombers he was interest in coaching them next year, but whether that sparks a bidding war between the Essendon and North — already bitter rivals — or he simply accepts a job offer from the Bombers remains uncertain.

Clarkson and the Kangaroos, who’ve been in talks for a month, had been seen as a growing certainty to land the legendary coach, especially after tabling a five-year deal. But with Essendon launching a last-minute bid and Clarkson’s interest in Essendon, the Kangaroos have told Clarkson’s management they want to know by Wednesday “where they sit in his thinking”, according to AFL 360 co-host Mark Robinson.

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The Roos have been solely focused on Clarkson – who played 93 games for North between 1987 and 1995 – as their replacement for David Noble, with club president Dr Sonja Hood driving negotiations between the two parties.

SEN reporter Sam Edmund suggested on Wednesday morning contracted Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley and ex-Giants coach Leon Cameron would be “top of the list” for the Kangaroos if Clarkson turned them down.

7 News Adelaide cameras captured footage of Clarkson on Tuesday night in Adelaide, where he arrived to visit a sick friend.

Four-time Essendon premiership coach and current Bombers board member Kevin Sheedy neither confirmed nor denied reports club higher-ups had already spoken with Clarkson about replacing Rutten.

But asked about his own view on Clarkson, a provocative Sheedy suggested North would be an appropriate landing spot.

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

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

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“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.”