I'll play devil's advocate - if we can start a thread with us licking our lips at the prospect of raiding GC and their talent pool, it probably means we can't be upset with the prospect of Freo trying to get Hogan from us at the end of 2017.

I'm all for us getting more talent when they are OOC and so forth, but we then can't turn around and cry about it when it happens to us.

No argument from me.

Since it has already happened to us and will continue to happen we need to do exactly the same.

Why are you comparing Gartlett to Bennell?

Bennell is twice the player Garlett is. Hes a gun midfielder. He is averaging 24.6 disposals, more than any Demon, and hes supposedly had a slow start to the season. He has a career average of 21.8 disposals.

He kicks goals. he kicked 23 last season which would place him first at Melbourne.

Im blown way that people say they aren't interested in him.

He would be arguably our best player alongside Jones and T Mac.

Very different footballers - but I think the comparison is being made because of the perception that they are both troubled individuals.

But I would have him in a heartbeat.

I just don't feel Bennell has the attitude/application to deliver on his talent on a consistent enough basis to be the type of player that the Melbourne football club needs, for the cost I think we could get a better player/package which could deliver more consistently

Why are you comparing Gartlett to Bennell?

Bennell is twice the player Garlett is. Hes a gun midfielder. He is averaging 24.6 disposals, more than any Demon, and hes supposedly had a slow start to the season. He has a career average of 21.8 disposals.

He kicks goals. he kicked 23 last season which would place him first at Melbourne.

Im blown way that people say they aren't interested in him.

He would be arguably our best player alongside Jones and T Mac.

If you read my post more carefully, you would see that I am not comparing their performances... I am comparing the fact that both are coming from similar "attitudinal" issues and that both are more than capable of turning things around as has been shown with Garlett this year. You will not get any argument from me regarding Bennell being someone who could have a greater impact, as I agree 100%.

Jesse Lonergan may not cost us too much as he has been injured. This write-up shows how combatative this kid is.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/gold-coast-suns-midfielder-jesse-lonergan-will-play-first-game-of-season-before-family-and-friends-against-hawthorn-in-tasmania/story-fni5f7ka-1226969494042

Petracca, Brayshaw, Lonergan, Viney, Jones and Tyson could be a formidable midfield. Add ANB on top of that.

Harley Bennell would be the cream on the cake.

We'd be loopy not to jump at the chance to get Bennell. In terms of talent, he'd be our best player. Dropped his bundle at the beginning of the year but he's not on his pat malone. From the outside looking in he doesn't appear to be leadership material, but you can't have everyone being a leader.

Ditto for Dixon. We are not "OK" for big forwards. We have Hogan. That's pretty much what we have going forward. The rest are making up the numbers. That is not to say that the focus is still the midfield, but if we can land Dixon then don't hold back.

I have reservations on Aish being one of SA's favourite sons who is supposedly homesick as it is. Will Melbourne simply be a detour towards the inevitable return home? Due diligence needed.

We'd be loopy not to jump at the chance to get Bennell. In terms of talent, he'd be our best player. Dropped his bundle at the beginning of the year but he's not on his pat malone. From the outside looking in he doesn't appear to be leadership material, but you can't have everyone being a leader.

Ditto for Dixon. We are not "OK" for big forwards. We have Hogan. That's pretty much what we have going forward. The rest are making up the numbers. That is not to say that the focus is still the midfield, but if we can land Dixon then don't hold back.

I have reservations on Aish being one of SA's favourite sons who is supposedly homesick as it is. Will Melbourne simply be a detour towards the inevitable return home? Due diligence needed.

If you have reservations about Aish being homesick then you should also with Bennell 'P-man'. If he moves he will be heading back to WA, can't deny his talent though as we all saw him and Ablett carve us up at the 'G' a season or so back.

A bit off topic, however there seem to be some rumours floating around that Dan Hannerbrey is keen to come home to Victoria - Yes please

If you have reservations about Aish being homesick then you should also with Bennell 'P-man'. If he moves he will be heading back to WA, can't deny his talent though as we all saw him and Ablett carve us up at the 'G' a season or so back.

Point taken but not to the same degree. Aish comes from a family that is football royalty in SA. There will be ongoing mutterings about a possible return home throughout his career, if indeed it isn't the next move he makes. Aish has also reportedly expressed a desire to return home, whereas I can't recall hearing anything similar about Bennell.

I'm not saying it's a deal breaker necessarily, but Aish is a pretty special case.

Point taken but not to the same degree. Aish comes from a family that is football royalty in SA. There will be ongoing mutterings about a possible return home throughout his career, if indeed it isn't the next move he makes. Aish has also reportedly expressed a desire to return home, whereas I can't recall hearing anything similar about Bennell.

I'm not saying it's a deal breaker necessarily, but Aish is a pretty special case.

Bennell was homesick and wanted to return home early days but moving in with Karmichael Hunt helped turn him around. With Hunt no longer there and the current issues at the club I would say it's a good chance he will be heading home.

Bennell can play, but he is soft. Does he have enough talent to overcome his reluctance to win the hard ball? In a good to very good side, yes.

^^^^^^^

The Jack Watts quandary

^^^^^^^

The Jack Watts quandary

I call Godwin's Law... shut it down!

^^^^^^^

The Jack Watts quandary

Bennell has regularly carved sides up.....

Bennell was homesick and wanted to return home early days but moving in with Karmichael Hunt helped turn him around. With Hunt no longer there and the current issues at the club I would say it's a good chance he will be heading home.

Wonder what Karmichael used to settle him down?

Bennell can play, but he is soft. Does he have enough talent to overcome his reluctance to win the hard ball? In a good to very good side, yes.

^^^^^^^

The Jack Watts quandary

Harley Bennell carves sides up on a regular basis. Jack Watts sometimes kicks a ball that makes you go "Hmm, that's ok I guess."

There's the difference.

I've been sitting on the fence with Bennell.

We need a player with consistancy, a big bodied and tall midfielder.

I don't the he's the mid we need however would be a good edition.

http://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/pp-gold-coast-suns--harley-bennell

His starts for 2015 are better than I thought.

Better stats than any of our players for this season so far.

Edited May 6, 201510 yr by Ethan Tremblay

Bennell, Prestia, Aish and Dixon for Howe, Pick 4 and cold hard cash

Bennell, Prestia, Aish and Dixon for Howe, Pick 4 and cold hard cash

Trading pick 4, Howe and cash to Gold Coast, to receive 3 Suns players and 1 Brisbane player is quite the deal if we could pull it off.

But somehow i think Brisbane is getting the raw end of the deal...

Trading pick 4, Howe and cash to Gold Coast, to receive 3 Suns players and 1 Brisbane player is quite the deal if we could pull it off.

But somehow i think Brisbane is getting the raw end of the deal...

It's part of a three way trade, somehow.

It's part of a three way trade, somehow.

my point exactly.

how would it work?

A bit off topic, however there seem to be some rumours floating around that Dan Hannerbrey is keen to come home to Victoria - Yes please

Where was that floated Maggot?

my point exactly.

how would it work?

We'll have to ask Roost It, it was his suggestion. Something tells me he didn't think that far ahead.

A bit off topic, however there seem to be some rumours floating around that Dan Hannerbrey is keen to come home to Victoria - Yes please

Doesn't that rumour surface every year?

I don't get all the love for Aish, does Toumpas need competition or something?