Ben Rutten’s Bombers are languishing near the bottom of the ladder.Credit:AFL Photos
“I’ve said I think Ben will be coaching for a long period of time. I think he will be a very successful coach. I’ve got complete confidence in him,” Brasher toldThe Age,following his message to members explaining the apparent backflip to a review of football.
Rutten is contracted until the end of 2023. Brasher,in response to a question about Rutten’s security,said the coach would “definitely not” be removed at the end of this season.
“No,no,no,definitely not,” said Brasher. Asked directly if Rutten would coach the Bombers next year,Brasher said:“Yep.”
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The president’s strong position on Rutten follows the team’s slump this year to 16th after a rise to finals in 2021,and in a coaching marketplace that has four-time premiership coach Alastair Clarkson up for grabs.
Brasher said the review – less broad than the one Brasher did at the end of 2020 when key players walked out of Tullamarine – did not need to be external because the club had the right people within to do the job.
“We believe that we’ve got enough people internally with the right sort of objectivity and experience to be able to assess it,” he said.