The Port Adelaide transformation is now fully complete, with the final vacant position—the General Manager of Football—being filled by Ben Rutten.
Rutten is an extremely well-known South Australian from his 12-year career for the Adelaide Crows, playing 229 games and being named a one-time All-Australian in 2005.
Being a former Crow, this decision is sure to raise the eyebrows of some Port diehards, but Rutten has admitted he is excited by the ‘new era’ of Port Adelaide.
“I’m very excited to be joining the Port Adelaide Football Club, especially at the beginning of a new era at Alberton,” Rutten said today.
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“Speaking with Matthew Richardson and Josh Carr about the opportunity, it became clear very quickly that I felt aligned with both the role and the club.”
Rutten has built a significant resume since his Adelaide playing days.
‘Truck’ was an assistant coach at Richmond from 2015 to 2018, which included capturing the 2017 AFL premiership, he then accepted the role as senior coach of Essendon in 2021.
Rutten’s tenure at Essendon as senior coach was short-lived, where he was given just two seasons in charge before being axed.
In 2023, he returned to Richmond to work with the coaching group as the head of coaching and development.
Rutten now joins a large list of new staff at Alberton as Carr completes his new-look side.
The Power has added former Gold Coast senior coach Stuart Dew as its new midfield coach and senior assistant, Luke Webster will join from West Coast as defensive coach, Glenelg’s two-time SANFL premiership-winning coach Darren Reeves will join as contest and opposition analyst and Hawthorn’s Andy Collins will join as director of coaching.