Newly-appointed Richmond assistant coach Ben Rutten can’t wait to get stuck into the next phase of his football life.

Rutten, who retired as a player at the end of the 2014 home-and-away season, after a distinguished 229-game career for Adelaide over 12 years, had his appointment as an assistant coach with the Tigers announced yesterday (Wednesday).

“I’m really excited about the opportunity.  In terms of me being able to develop as a coach, I certainly see a great opportunity there at Richmond.  I’m really keen to learn from ‘Dimma’ (Damien Hardwick), ‘Ladey’ (Brendon Lade) and the other assistant coaches,” Rutten told SEN.

“The feeling I got from them is that they’re really proactive and keen to improve.  So, for me to be part of that and, hopefully, really develop myself, is the opportunity I’m looking for.”

Rutten revealed that he’d spoken to several clubs about an assistant coaching role, before settling on Richmond as his preferred choice.

“I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to talk to a few other clubs, which was really valuable for me,” he said.

“The opportunity to stay in Adelaide was an enticing one, and I suppose a more comfortable decision for me.  But I think the right decision was to try and get outside of Adelaide and experience a different culture.

“Melbourne’s really appealing in terms of all the clubs, and Richmond, especially – such a big, powerful footy club, and so well resourced.  So, that was what really appealed to me . . .  

“The decision for me wasn’t taken overly lightly, but I’m just really excited about the opportunity that Richmond provides.

“As well, I feel as if I’ve got something to add to the defensive group at Richmond.  I see some really quality players there.

“I’m going to be working with the defenders, which is something that I’ve had most experience with.  I’m really passionate about defence within footy, and see it as such an important role.

“I think I’ve got some skills with the key-position players, as well as a bit of leadership with the players.

“At this stage, I really see myself as getting involved in the back six, and I’m also really keen on looking at how the whole team defends as a group.  That’s sort of my passion . . .”

Rutten was bitten by the coaching bug during the final years of his playing career with the Crows.

“When our (Adelaide’s) backline turned over a fair bit, we had a pretty inexperienced backline, and it was part of my role, being a more experienced player, to try and teach these guys and develop them a bit quicker,” he said.

“I just really enjoyed doing that, and I suppose just got the passion for coaching through that.” 

Rutten subsequently enrolled in the “Next Coach” program run by highly-respected, long-time AFL assistant coach David Wheadon, to enhance his coaching education.  

“It was essential for me, really.  I’d done the Level 2 coaching, and done my bits and pieces helping out at the Crows, but Dave (Wheadon) is really challenging, and lets you form your own philosophy, your own game plan, and the way you see the game going,” Rutten said.

“Dave’s a fantastic mentor for me and I still keep in contact with him and really value his opinion and thoughts on the game.

“He’s really well studied, not only in the AFL, but sports across the world, and especially with coaching.

“That, for me, really clarified in my mind what I stood for as a coach, and what I want to achieve.

“Obviously, I haven’t got my feet under the table yet, so I’m still really raw and have heaps and heaps to learn.  But I think doing that Next Coach program is the best preparation any player can do before they get a (coaching) job.”

Rutten watched the Richmond revival throughout the second half of the 2014 season from afar, via television, was suitably impressed, and is enthusiastic about the Tigers’ future prospects.

“I’m really excited about getting involved.  I’m keen just to get in there and have a look at how things are run,” he said.

“They’ve got a really core group of players and, other than Chris Newman, I think their next oldest might be Ivan (Maric) at 28.  That’s a really good age profile of their group and, especially some of the defenders that I’m going to be working with, so it’s going to be great.

“Obviously, the midfielders with (Dustin) Martin, (Brett) Deledio and (Trent) Cotchin, are standouts in the competition.

“So, there’s a really good foundation there, and that’s why I’m keen to get in and involved and, hopefully, move them up the ladder really quickly.

“I think there’s real scope, as you saw in the last half of the year, for them to do some damage in the competition next year.”