Geelong v Brisbane Lions result, video, highlights, latest news; Ben Rutten joins Richmond after Essendon axing

Ben Rutten has not spent too long in the AFL wilderness after he was sacked by Essendon last month, re-joining Richmond.

The 39-year-old has been announced as an assistant under Damien Hardwick for the 2023 season, returning to the role he held between 2015 and 2018 before moving to Essendon.

”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 in a club statement.

“I am looking forward to this fresh opportunity and the challenge of helping the club return to the top of the ladder.”

“Ben is a terrific coach that is highly respected by many of our players that have already worked with him,” Tigers GM Tim Livingstone added.

“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.”