Essendon's Ben Rutten in tears before brutal admission: 'I deserve better'
Under siege coach Ben Rutten was emotional in his post-match press conference, despite being adamant he is the right man to coach Essendon in the future.
Rutten was emotional in the rooms after Saturday night's 66-point loss - 21.15 (141) to 11.9 (75) - to Richmond but claimed he wanted to stay on as coach after a turbulent week.
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Locker room footage showed the coach wiping away tears after he told the media he didn't deserve the treatment he received after a week, which saw reports claim he was going to lose his job.
"I'm committed to coaching this footy club. That's my job, that's what I signed up for," he told reporters.
"I didn't put my hand up to coach this club because I thought it would be easy.
"I thought I could make a difference. I signed up and I committed to give my services to the Essendon football club and its supporters, the members, and the players."
"That's what I want to do. I want to see it through and I know I can make a difference, and I know I can take us to where we want to get to."
New president David Barham apologised on Friday for failing to notify Rutten of Essendon's late pursuit of Clarkson earlier this week.
The 39-year-old lamented the treatment he had received and stressed the club needed alignment.
"It's been disappointing. I probably think I deserve better," Rutten said.
"As a club, we need to come together as a whole football club and we need to stick to a plan, put our heads down, bum up and do the work.
"There's no other way for this football club to get back to where it wants to be."
AFL world rallies around Ben Rutten
The AFL world was quick to praise Rutten for how well he has handled the drama this week, which has seen his position as coach come under question.
The Richmond players were also praised for showing the opposition coach support after a tough week.
All the Richmond players getting around Ben Rutten too. Great respect and show of genuine care and support. Lovely moment in what has been a horrible week for the Bombers coach. #AFLDonsTigers
— Nat Edwards (@Nat_Edwards) August 20, 2022
Ben Rutten couldn’t have handled this week any better, Essendon’s board couldn’t have handled it any worse #AFLDonsTigers
— Oliver Caffrey (@ollycaffrey) August 20, 2022
Ben Rutten appreciation tweet.
— Georgie Parker (@georgieparker) August 20, 2022
I have plenty of sympathy for Ben Rutten, and think he's been shabbily treated, but I don't agree the club has "asked too much of the playing group". I think one of the issues at Essendon (for a long time) is that not enough has been expected of the playing group. #AFLDonsTigers
— Rohan Connolly (@rohan_connolly) August 20, 2022
Ben Rutten all class; Michael Hurley all class; Richmond players all class in embracing Rutten and Hurley post-match. Footy is such a great game, a source of so much joy, but it also can be brutal and bloody cruel at times. #aflbomberstigers
— Glenn McFarlane (@MaccaHeraldSun) August 20, 2022
Before Saturday's game, Barham, who replaced predecessor Paul Brasher this week, told a president's function Essendon needed to "reset and rebuild" to bring success back to the club.
"For me, this is urgent and it requires us to be bold, decisive and courageous," Barham said.
with AAP
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