Former Essendon coach Ben Rutten will return to Richmond in 2023 as an assistant coach.
Rutten was last month sacked as Bombers coach after four years at the club including two in charge at Tullamarine.
Having worked under Damien Hardwick from 2015 to 2018, the 39-year-old says he’s excited about returning to Richmond – a club that he helped guide to a drought-breaking premiership in 2017.
“Richmond is a great club, and I am still very familiar with a majority of the playing list and staff which makes me excited about 2023 already,” Rutten said via a statement.
“I am looking forward to this fresh opportunity and the challenge of helping the Club return to the top of the ladder.”
Richmond GM of football performance Tim Livingstone was thrilled to bring Rutten back into the fold with his expertise “highly-respected” inside the club’s four walls.
“Ben is a terrific coach that is highly respected by many of our players that have already worked with him,” Livingstone said via a statement.
“We look forward to bringing his expertise back into our club and are excited about the benefit it will bring our playing group and broader football department.
“We are all thrilled to have Ben along with his wife Kylie and boys Jack and Bernie back as part of the Richmond Football Club.”