Port Adelaide has welcomed Ben Rutten as its new football boss, replacing the departed Chris Davies.
Rutten will return to South Australia following stints as Essendon’s senior coach, as well as serving multiple roles at Richmond following his sacking.
The former Adelaide player will join Josh Carr in a new-look Power outfit, which has undergone a massive overhaul since long-term coach Ken Hinkley left.
Former Port Adelaide player Jacob Surjan was recently announced as the club’s head SANFL coach, which follows the acquisition of Andy Collins (director of coaching), Stuart Dew (senior assistant and midfield), Luke Webster (defenders), Darren Reeves (forwards) and Mitch Clisby (development – forwards) this off-season.
The Power also have Hamish Hartlett (contest, stoppage and opposition), Matthew Lobbe (head of development) and Cameron Sutcliffe (development – defenders) under Carr for his first year in charge of the Power.
“We’re delighted to welcome Ben Rutten to the Port Adelaide Football Club as our General Manager of Football,” Power CEO Matthew Richardson said of Rutten.
“We undertook a thorough process to target and identify the right person for our program, and Ben emerged as the standout candidate who best complements our group and the direction we’re heading.
“The significant changes we’ve made over the last couple of months with the combined experience and capability we’ve compiled across our football department allowed us to think differently about this role.
“Ben is a highly credentialed football person – a former player, assistant coach, and AFL senior coach – who will provide great leadership and support right across our club. He has had experience in successful programs and understands what an elite environment looks like.
What particularly impressed us is Ben’s focus on continual learning and development and his desire to broaden his career beyond coaching, complementing his unique skills and experience to move into football administration. His most recent role as head of coaching and development at Richmond demonstrated exactly the kind of strategic football leadership we were seeking.
“Ben is a person of great character, and we look forward to welcoming him and his family to the Port Adelaide Football Club.”
Rutten played 229 games for the Crows across 12 seasons, and quickly entered the coaching space following his retirement.
A lengthy stint at Richmond, which crossed over the beginning of their dynasty, saw the 42-year-old build his skillset, which he took to the Bombers ahead of the 2019 season to work under John Worsfold.
Shortly after, Rutten succeeded Worsfold, taking the reins of Essendon for two years, before he was moved on and ultimately replaced by Brad Scott
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