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WELCOME TO THE MELBOURNE FOOTBALL CLUB - HARLEY BENNELL

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in Melbourne Demons

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  On 04/02/2020 at 12:14, RalphiusMaximus said:

This is great news.  No matter the outcome, the club has finally shown that they are willing to take a risk on some elite talent.  If we're lucky and patient we may have our own Shaun Burgoyne out of this. 

You've just upped my level of expectation. Now anything less than a Shaun Burgoyne standard is going to feel like a disappoining result!

Seriously, I'm pleased for Bennell and can't see any downside. I'm confident that the risk of him not making it is no worse than any other player available to take at this time.

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    For me this is a super good deal. I hear people say that it’s a waste of money, but how many kids make a list and never play a game? The fact at his best he is a game changer. I love the fact we have taken a punt. 

    Edited by Frustrated Demon

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    Great news and if he can get fit and plays a few games in back in of this year he will be regarded as the recruit of the year for next to nothing. Excited about HB, Jacko, Kossie, Rivers and Brown. Would be nearly our best recruiting year to date.

     

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      On 05/02/2020 at 00:38, Docs Demons said:

    Great news and if he can get fit and plays a few games in back in of this year he will be regarded as the recruit of the year for next to nothing. Excited about HB, Jacko, Kossie, Rivers and Brown. Would be nearly our best recruiting year to date.

     

    you forgot our 2 wingers

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      On 04/02/2020 at 23:53, Frustrated Demon said:

    For me this is a super good deal. I hear people say that it’s a waste of money, but how many kids make a list and never play a game? The fact at his best he is a game changer. I love the fact we have taken a punt. 

    I agree.  This is good in so many dimensions.  That we have a list in which there is room to take a punt.  That we send a signal that we are a great place for ‘new starts’.  That we have a great environment, where his interaction with the club and the team were important in getting onto the list. I think this is a cheap pickup for us, that is essentially all upside if he comes good.  I am barracking hard for a mid season demon debut, building to a game changer in the finals.  Go Harley!

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    A couple of points.

    A lot of commentary seems to be along the lines of "finally - we've taken a risk on elite talent instead of always taking the safe option". I disagree with this for 2 reasons. Firstly, I think we've taken our fair share of left-field recruiting gambles in recent years (e.g., Jurrah, Wonnaeamirri, Clark, Oliver) - they just mostly haven't worked out for one reason or another. Secondly, I can't see how recruiting Bennell is a particularly big risk - we haven't invested anything other than a rookie spot, so it's a classic low risk/ potentially high reward situation IMO. That's just astute recruiting.

    Let's be honest - if barracking for a footy club was purely about winning games and premierships, we all would have called it quits a long time ago. Players that defy the odds, comeback stories, redemption stories - they're the stories that capture our imagination and make footy great.

    Both us and Harley are due for some luck in this department - fingers crossed he plays some good footy for us (ideally in September, but no pressure!)

     

     

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      On 05/02/2020 at 03:34, Accepting Mediocrity said:

    A couple of points.

    A lot of commentary seems to be along the lines of "finally - we've taken a risk on elite talent instead of always taking the safe option". I disagree with this for 2 reasons. Firstly, I think we've taken our fair share of left-field recruiting gambles in recent years (e.g., Jurrah, Wonnaeamirri, Clark, Oliver) - they just mostly haven't worked out for one reason or another. Secondly, I can't see how recruiting Bennell is a particularly big risk - we haven't invested anything other than a rookie spot, so it's a classic low risk/ potentially high reward situation IMO. That's just astute recruiting.

    Let's be honest - if barracking for a footy club was purely about winning games and premierships, we all would have called it quits a long time ago. Players that defy the odds, comeback stories, redemption stories - they're the stories that capture our imagination and make footy great.

    Both us and Harley are due for some luck in this department - fingers crossed he plays some good footy for us (ideally in September, but no pressure!)

     

     

    Excellent summation AM!

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      On 05/02/2020 at 03:34, Accepting Mediocrity said:

    A couple of points.

    A lot of commentary seems to be along the lines of "finally - we've taken a risk on elite talent instead of always taking the safe option". I disagree with this for 2 reasons. Firstly, I think we've taken our fair share of left-field recruiting gambles in recent years (e.g., Jurrah, Wonnaeamirri, Clark, Oliver) - they just mostly haven't worked out for one reason or another. Secondly, I can't see how recruiting Bennell is a particularly big risk - we haven't invested anything other than a rookie spot, so it's a classic low risk/ potentially high reward situation IMO. That's just astute recruiting.

    Let's be honest - if barracking for a footy club was purely about winning games and premierships, we all would have called it quits a long time ago. Players that defy the odds, comeback stories, redemption stories - they're the stories that capture our imagination and make footy great.

    Both us and Harley are due for some luck in this department - fingers crossed he plays some good footy for us (ideally in September, but no pressure!)

     

     

    It’s all about winning and Premierships for me... :)

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      On 05/02/2020 at 01:24, stinga said:

    you forgot our 2 wingers

    Makes it even better!!

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    This would be up there with our big bandwagons..........

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    Welcome aboard the Dee train Bennell. 
     

    If he can get his body right then happy days. 

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    To me, the real feel-good story about Harley Bennell is that the MFC has given him a chance to make an AFL comeback - and I am really proud of our club for making this a reality..

    What happens from this point on is up to Harley and really,  is in the lap of the gods - but we all wish him well.

    If he gets to a level of fitness where he can play again - I'll be extremely happy for him.

    If he gets to a point where his performance gets him selected in our best 22, then i will be ecstatic for him.

    If he gets to the point where he actually stars in our best 22, then I will be orgasmic.

    However, if he breaks down during any of these stages, and has to give the game away, i'll be sad for Harley, but extremely proud of our Club for doing all it could to make Harley's dream a reality.

     

     

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      On 05/02/2020 at 07:51, Neil Crompton said:

    To me, the real feel-good story about Harley Bennell is that the MFC has given him a chance to make an AFL comeback - and I am really proud of our club for making this a reality..

    What happens from this point on is up to Harley and really,  is in the lap of the gods - but we all wish him well.

    If he gets to a level of fitness where he can play again - I'll be extremely happy for him.

    If he gets to a point where his performance gets him selected in our best 22, then i will be ecstatic for him.

    If he gets to the point where he actually stars in our best 22, then I will be orgasmic.

    However, if he breaks down during any of these stages, and has to give the game away, i'll be sad for Harley, but extremely proud of our Club for doing all it could to make Harley's dream a reality.

     

     

    A real feel good storey.

    There are only positives in the club doing this.

    Imagine Bennell gets a game,  he kicks one goal, and we win by 5 points, well win anyway.

    He will have paid back to the club, supporters and Football Department, 10 times over

    GO DEES 2020

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      On 05/02/2020 at 08:56, demonstone said:

    Anybody know what his Brownlow odd are?

    I think your better one to look at would be seeing if you can punt on how many games he'll feature in this year. I still doubt we're going to see much of him in the first half of the year.

    Edited by Pates

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      On 05/02/2020 at 09:02, Pates said:

    I think your better one to look at would be seeing if you can punt on how many games he'll feature in this year. I still doubt we're going to see much of him in the first half of the year.

    11 best on grounds in the second half of the season should just about clinch it though! ??

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    I think it’s a good get, minimum risk high reward. Unless you subscribe to the theory that he’ll destroy the culture. 

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    Rookie wage approx $60k.

    HB hype could very well contribute towards signing extra members

    Increase in media exposure for sponsors 

    If he does get a senior game, will definitely pull fans through the gates

    Assuming he behaves himself, I'd say it's a very good move by the club.

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    Those that are against this in any way are most likely the same people who would be gnashing their teeth and ripping into the club for missing the opportunity had the likes of Hawthorn or Geelong got him instead.

    Edited by JTR

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      On 05/02/2020 at 11:32, JTR said:

    Those that are against this in any way are most likely the same people who would be gnashing their teeth and ripping into the club for missing the opportunity had the likes of Hawthorn or Geelong got him instead.

    Probably also the ones who had massive hard on for Jack Martin despite him not wanting to come to us and showing very little to justify his price tag.

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    I would Immediately donate my left [censored] to science if I had an iron clad guarantee this would come off...

    I wish Harley all the best. A good and extremely bold move by the club.

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      On 05/02/2020 at 21:27, Demonland said:

     

    Chicken legs alright. Noticed at Maroochy his calves are very skinny compared to the other players.

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      On 05/02/2020 at 21:27, Demonland said:

     

    Big day from a Freo player considering he only played 3? Games for them.

    Super excited by this signing though.

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    He may never play again, but he's the most naturally talented player on our list.

    I've said it before, he's a better footballer than Tim Kelly.  But yes, it means little if those legs don't mend.

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