WELCOME TO THE MELBOURNE FOOTBALL CLUB - HARLEY BENNELL

[McQueen 17,865]

Hmmm....

It’s hard to gauge whether hub life was a good thing or a bad thing for Bennell given his history.

The little alcohol demons had sat in waiting in the amygdala of his brain and have been released to wreak havoc. 
I can speak from a position of knowledge here guys because I’ve experienced similar after extended periods of abstinence. 
 

It’s such a fine line to tip toe along dealing with alcohol misuse disorder. 
 

I really feel for him and his missus.

[DeeZone 9,893]

Terrible news for Harley and his family back in WA. The report stated that MFC trying to organise air travel back to WA for Harley. Good luck Harley.

[YesitwasaWin4theAges 6,704]

The four years at Freo with no medical solution to his calf problems destroyed him as a player, was always going to be an uphill battle getting him back to anywhere near his best.

During those dark times he found solace in drowning his sorrows in the drink and whatever else came his way.

Unfortunately he could never get back the appetite for the contest having seen it at close quarters i knew personally he was done. 

Training form while a good indicator doesn't replicate match form sadly for Harley the game had past him by.

 

[Cards13 9,117]

24 minutes ago, Win4theAges said:

The four years at Freo with no medical solution to his calf problems destroyed him as a player, was always going to be an uphill battle getting him back to anywhere near his best.

During those dark times he found solace in drowning his sorrows in the drink and whatever else came his way.

Unfortunately he could never get back the appetite for the contest having seen it at close quarters i knew personally he was done. 

Training form while a good indicator doesn't replicate match form sadly for Harley the game had past him by.

 

I just hope life doesn't.

Hang in there Harley, start the journey from the bottom up and find some enjoyment/happiness/contentment. 

[Sir Why You Little 37,053]

2 hours ago, whatwhatsaywhat said:

sadly so

https://7news.com.au/sport/afl/harley-bennell-hospitalised-hours-after-announcing-afl-retirement-c-1349741

This is very sad indeed. 
he has a long road ahead :(

i don’t think Hub Life was good for Harley. So sad he only had 48 hours to go. 
i helped an addict abstain about 15 years ago. It was a month i will never forget. I knew nothing of that world

Edited September 29, 2020 by Sir Why You Little

[At the break of Gawn 4,460]

Facebook supporter groups are generally filled with nuffies, and this just makes me annoyed and saddened by what Harley’s Mum has been reading about people throwing stones at her son.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2020-harley-bennell-melbourne-heavily-intoxicated-in-hospital-mum-facebook-comments-demons-latest-news/news-story/d5f3b44ffb46b45c1b36095840b7a0eb?fbclid=IwAR1l2cr2g7GI44-AaYPxmoYksMRFaFVWbvSZsuDxAULcSCeZXRDzzCgefZM

[spirit of norm smith 16,478]

Somehow the needs to be someone to watch him and guide him.  It’s a huge worry that he was off the alcohol but like many, has regressed to a destructive state in a matter of days. Clearly needs ongoing help.  Hope the club welfare can assist and try to connect to help him. 

[deebug 1,754]

On 9/28/2020 at 1:03 PM, Ethan Tremblay said:

Waiver the fine Gil, you mustard blazer floppy hat wearing thunderbird looking weirdo. 

MBFHWTW, or thunderbird werido for short??

[deebug 1,754]

58 minutes ago, spirit of norm smith said:

Somehow the needs to be someone to watch him and guide him.  It’s a huge worry that he was off the alcohol but like many, has regressed to a destructive state in a matter of days. Clearly needs ongoing help.  Hope the club welfare can assist and try to connect to help him. 

I'm sure they will, maybe one day Harley can come down and watch the dee's play a game at the G?

But for now, get better Harley, we are all thinking of you?

[Kick_It_To_Pickett 3,293]

2 hours ago, At the break of Gawn said:

Facebook supporter groups are generally filled with nuffies, and this just makes me annoyed and saddened by what Harley’s Mum has been reading about people throwing stones at her son.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2020-harley-bennell-melbourne-heavily-intoxicated-in-hospital-mum-facebook-comments-demons-latest-news/news-story/d5f3b44ffb46b45c1b36095840b7a0eb?fbclid=IwAR1l2cr2g7GI44-AaYPxmoYksMRFaFVWbvSZsuDxAULcSCeZXRDzzCgefZM

I’m shocked that his mother engages with nuffies on tht page. She was regularly on the pages commenting on Facebook from the start of the season. 
 

Whilst the whole situation is sad and I feel for Harley, there is an air of “he’s the victim” in all this. 
 

He was provided a lifeline and promised not to drink. He stuffed up and cost the club $50k, then went MIA from all reports and refused to answer questions. 
 

I think MFC supporters have been super supportive of Harley this year. There was another family member on that page blaming the club for not trusting him to play AFL this year and not playing him. There is a bit more going on here methinks. 

Edited September 29, 2020 by Kick_It_To_Pickett

[picket fence 17,182]

Sad situation for Harley, Family, MFC and footy in general.

[layzie 33,868]

1 hour ago, Kick_It_To_Pickett said:

I’m shocked that his mother engages with nuffies on tht page. She was regularly on the pages commenting on Facebook from the start of the season. 
 

Absolutely, if you want to meet the absolute gutter of supporters of any footy club head to the Facebook pages. I do feel sorry for this poor woman who is probably going through a fair bit herself right now. It would just be great if she knew the majority of Melbourne fans here while disappointed it didn't work out are really concerned about what is happening with Harley right now and dearly want to see him back on track and ready for the next phase.  

[Lucifers Hero 40,004]

I hope Harley feels proud of what he has achieved.  To come back from the setbacks of the last few years, the public shaming, overcoming injuries and getting fit enough to play AFL again is a huge testament to his grit and determination.  Respect.

Hope he can get past his current tribulations and recognise his achievements.

Feel for Steven May.  They seemed like brothers and am guessing he would be worried for his mate who he helped bring to the club.

Edited September 29, 2020 by Lucifer's Hero

[Pates 9,660]

Seems to have spiralled very quickly, it’s a massive shame because the extent of his alcohol issues are becoming even more striking now. I just wish he’d reached out before his hub breach, I think the club was keen to keep him on for next year but his demons clearly have a hold on him. 

I hope there are players like May that are reaching out to him to help him. This is getting a bit tragic now and right now I’d just like to see him safe and away from Queensland.

I hope he’s ok, really feel for his mum. 

[Mazer Rackham 14,971]

5 hours ago, At the break of Gawn said:

Facebook ...

Cesspool, and Fox Sports should have more restraint and good judgement than to validate the chumps and low lives who post their hate on it.

The cesspool organisation has a business model that works against human decency and high morals and has been shown to cause depression.

[Pates 9,660]

3 hours ago, Kick_It_To_Pickett said:

I’m shocked that his mother engages with nuffies on tht page. She was regularly on the pages commenting on Facebook from the start of the season. 
 

Whilst the whole situation is sad and I feel for Harley, there is an air of “he’s the victim” in all this. 
 

He was provided a lifeline and promised not to drink. He stuffed up and cost the club $50k, then went MIA from all reports and refused to answer questions. 
 

I think MFC supporters have been super supportive of Harley this year. There was another family member on that page blaming the club for not trusting him to play AFL this year and not playing him. There is a bit more going on here methinks. 

Taking an educated guess by what’s transpired I’d say he’s an addict, if that’s the case it’s an illness as well as a mental health issue. 

I’d say most Melbourne fans were extremely supportive of him during his time at the club and being sport it can get emotional in how people react. People saw the barebones of “hub breach”, “on the turps”, and the $50k fine and they react with disappointment and anger for him blowing this opportunity. At the end of the day we’re dealing with someone who is going through a lot. That’s not to excuse him but people also need to take a breath and have some empathy. 

Maybe sending him back to Melbourne early would’ve been the better choice in hindsight, but then again you isolate him from the club and his teammates and send him to the lockdown state. Is that much better?

[Bitter but optimistic 22,242]

Sadly, this could go Ben Cousins mark 2 

[Older demon 2,741]

Harley is in a serious situation and clearly is in need of help.

I know he breached the hub COVID, but his case is one of mental health. I think it is time MFC appealed the fine and Demonlanders starts emailing the AFL to rescind the fine. This is not like the other COVID breaches. He absconded and is clearly under duress, unlike the other breaches for playing tennis, going to a night club and visiting a facial salon and so on. From his mums emotional plea the fine and suspension are exacerbating his current mental state as well as all the hate coming his way. MFC are doing everything to get him home but as reported his erratic behaviour is making this difficult. In light of this scenario I think it is ridiculous to hold the club responsible for a player with mental health issues who has fled the hub never to return. 

 

 

[Cards13 9,117]

Sure he will... 

[Rodney (Balls) Grinter 10,842]

So disappointed with the situation, but not with Harley himself so much.  I have a few family members with substance addiction problems (mainly alcohol) and have seen what a battle it is for them to stay on the straight and narrow and how quickly it can all turn pear shaped, so no judgement from me.  Also feel for his mum and family.  Watching and trying to help loved ones self destructing before your eyes is a disempowering, soul destroying situation at the best of times and not being able to be there with them to at least try to support them turn the situation around is gut wrenching.  Similar to his reported situation of refusing help from the club since his hub breach, my experiences are that people in this mental state often reject a lot of the love and support that is extended to them in their darkest moments.  I can only imagine that to have this playing out in the public eye only further complicates the situation and must compound the feeling of failure and despair for someone in Harley's situation.

Loved what Harley bought to the MFC in his short time at it.  Though his body wasn't quite up to it this season, but the skills and poise that he exhibited were exquisite and rarely if ever matched by any other player I've seen pull on the red and blue in my lifetime.  It really was a joy watching some of those effortless side steps, back peddles and banana snaps around the body that always looked like going through 95% of the time.  Kossie has some good dance moves, but Bennel just made it look like he had the ability to work in slow motion, such was his sense of where the players were around him and how to out step and out manouvoure them with utter control.  Had he been able to operate at full physical fitness levels with us his class could have been a total game changer and missing peice to the puzzle for the MFC team.

Really hope that his family and guys from the MFC like Steven May, big Maxy Gawn and/or whoever else he was close with at the club can provide him some sort of support and sense of worth over the next period.

All the best Harley.

[Rodney (Balls) Grinter 10,842]

16 hours ago, Kick_It_To_Pickett said:

I’m shocked that his mother engages with nuffies on tht page. She was regularly on the pages commenting on Facebook from the start of the season. 
 

Whilst the whole situation is sad and I feel for Harley, there is an air of “he’s the victim” in all this. 
 

He was provided a lifeline and promised not to drink. He stuffed up and cost the club $50k, then went MIA from all reports and refused to answer questions. 
 

I think MFC supporters have been super supportive of Harley this year. There was another family member on that page blaming the club for not trusting him to play AFL this year and not playing him. There is a bit more going on here methinks. 

Though I haven't seen all the exchanges, I recon good on his mum for pushing back and not letting these jerks off the hook.  If it helps even some of them realise and take stock that there are real people and real consequences of their mindless keyboard attacks and or they loose some social standing amoung their peers from their actions then that would be something of a positive.  Bet many of these people wouldn't have the guts to speak their mind to Harely or his mum's face.  But I also get the potential futility of his mum engaging some of them and hope she can separate herself from these mindless critics.

Personally I don't think the MFC owes Harley anything.  We picked him up as a rookie, didn't have to give up any draft picks or players to get the opportunity to have him on our list and he wasn't on big money by any means.  He uprooted himself and his family to Melbourne and the hubs to give himself and us a chance  at football sucess.  From all that is reported he applied himself with the right kind of disipline  and attitude. 

In many ways, I personally think the hub breach in it's self was a realitively minor indiscretion having occurred on the cusp of our season and his being pretty much over and him not returning so as not to jeopardise the rest of the team.  It's may be difficult for people in Melbourne to understand and empathise right now, but up here in Qld, life is almost normal with very limited restrictions from COVID, so I could understand if Harley saw that and just wanted to go and do what everyone else up here is doing out of the hub bubbles.

In retrospect perhaps the club and the AFL could have managed the COVID breach situation differently, as it seems to have tipped Harley over the edge, but that's easy to say without knowing the full story, having to be responsible for the rest of the team/league and in hindsight.

[whatwhat say what 22,783]

15 hours ago, Mazer Rackham said:

Cesspool, and Fox Sports should have more restraint and good judgement than to validate the chumps and low lives who post their hate on it.

The cesspool organisation has a business model that works against human decency and high morals and has been shown to cause depression.

it's not been the same since the daily mail dudes took over the editorial aspect about two or so years ago; the ethos of the site's reporting really changed

[dieter 3,325]

2 hours ago, Rodney (Balls) Grinter said:

So disappointed with the situation, but not with Harley himself so much.  I have a few family members with substance addiction problems (mainly alcohol) and have seen what a battle it is for them to stay on the straight and narrow and how quickly it can all turn pear shaped, so no judgement from me.  Also feel for his mum and family.  Watching and trying to help loved ones self destructing before your eyes is a disempowering, soul destroying situation at the best of times and not being able to be there with them to at least try to support them turn the situation around is gut wrenching.  Similar to his reported situation of refusing help from the club since his hub breach, my experiences are that people in this mental state often reject a lot of the love and support that is extended to them in their darkest moments.  I can only imagine that to have this playing out in the public eye only further complicates the situation and must compound the feeling of failure and despair for someone in Harley's situation.

 

Sad to say, I know first hand about the situation with some of your family members. My sister died a month ago from the same issue. People who make judgements about victims of alcohol or drug abuse have no idea  how grim life is for those who suffer from addictions. I appreciate your post very much.

[Coq au vin 755]

MFC should have picked him for more games. We had plenty of muppets playing who were pretty useless and he was left in the hub.

[daisycutter 29,627]

no winners here. very sad. i'm sure there is much we don't know (and probably will never)

hope it doesn't escalate, and harley and family get through this setback. can only hope.