Essendon senior coach John Worsfold says he’s empowering his successor Ben Rutten, who is thriving with more responsibilities on match days.

The Bombers last year announced a coaching succession plan that would see Rutten take the reins in 2021, with his responsibilities increasing throughout the 2020 season.

The transition was progressing “quicker” than Worsfold had anticipated, with the veteran coach saying Rutten had filled him with the confidence to loosen his control during matches.

“The plan was that over the course of the year, we’d see how things were tracking along in terms of our match-day coaching, and at different points Ben would have bigger responsibilities for some games, whether that was going to be second half of the year (or earlier),” Worsfold said on AFL 360. 

“The way things were tracking through the pre-season, it became pretty clear to me that the players didn’t need two voices and for them to be second-guessing who’s going to be talking about one thing and who’s going to be talking about the other. 

“I felt very comfortable that Ben was well prepared and ready to step up and take on a bigger role there. We discussed it. Everything we do we talk about, we don’t just second guess that.

“We were comfortable with the way things were tracking that on match day in terms of dealing face-to-face players with the players and all the messaging and communication, it’s Ben. Ben and I communicate specifically with each other about what the key messages will be.” 

When asked if he ever felt the need to step in, Worsfold joked that Rutten could thank him for a match-winning move against the Swans at the SCG on Sunday.

With the game in the balance, Darcy Parish was moved to the midfield in the final term, recording 13 disposals, four inside-50s and two clearances, and kicking the match-winning goal.

“I had to step in and take control to get the ball back in Darcy Parish’s hands, but other than that, it was all Ben,” he said.