Has Essendon coach Ben Rutten been given a fair chance to prove his worth as a coach at the Bombers?
That was the question asked of Garry Lyon on SEN Breakfast.
Rutten essentially took over the role in 2020, following two years as an assistant, as part of a full-year handover with John Worsfold before leading the club to finals in 2021.
They have taken a large step backwards in 2022 after pre-season hype including being Mick Malthouse’s premiership tip.
However, a closer inspection of their list could see they lacked scoring power without Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti and Cale Hooker, while their key defensive stocks were always going to be thin.
Lyon said he feels there is enough evidence for the Bombers to make a change.
“You could say it’s short, I think there are enough signs that he hasn’t been able to imprint on this football club in a positive way,” Lyon told SEN Breakfast.
“It started in Round 1 with a 60-point loss to Geelong and it finished with an 84-point loss to Port Adelaide and in between there were another five times where the same things post game were being said.
“As harsh as it sounds, sometimes you can work that out in a short period of time.
“I’ve said this many times, sometimes there are coaches who are suited to coach, sometimes there are coaches who are suited to being outstanding assistants. Maybe that’s the case with Ben, maybe it’s not, I wouldn’t know, I’m not that close to it.
“But when you’ve got a four-timer sitting there in the background and you’ve got an agitation for change now that’s got this groundswell and now it’s all or nothing and it makes for drama of the highest order because it is all on the line. It’s all or nothing.
“And if it’s nothing, good luck.”
The Bombers will complete their 2022 season on the weekend when they take on Richmond.