Essendon's search for a new coach has officially begun following the sacking of Ben Rutten on Sunday afternoon, with the former Bombers coach having spent just two seasons in the top job at Tullamarine.
Rutten's exit continues what has been a tumultuous decade for the club, with the Bombers now seeking an experienced coach to help put a stop to their graceless fall down the ladder.
Alastair Clarkson has now committed to North Melbourne, while the Giants are set to announce their new coach in the coming days, leaving Essendon, and those conducting an external review into the club, a difficult task to find their next coach.
With time not on their side to find a suitable candidate prior to the trade and draft period, Zero Hanger has had a look at who the most likely candidates are for the top job.
3. Don Pyke
The former Crows coach has plenty of experience under his belt, currently enjoying life as an assistant at the finals-bound Swans.
Pyke coached 93 games at Adelaide throughout 2016-2019, including the 2017 grand final, before resigning from the top job following the 2019 season.
Pyke joined John Longmire's coaching team in 2021 and has injected his attacking flair into the Swans' game plan, and is now being mentioned as a potential replacement for Rutten.
Despite his impressive resume, with the Bombers currently undergoing a period of instability questions may be asked if Pyke is the right man for the job considering the ongoing fallout from the infamous Adelaide training camp.
