WELCOME TO THE MELBOURNE FOOTBALL CLUB - HARLEY BENNELL

[Gator 17,261]

OK, so clearly Bennell made a poor decision and disregarded maniacal lockdown rules.  I suspect he did it as he knew his season was over, but it flew in the face of the club, leagues and state protocols.  It's disappointing when one considers the chance he's been given by the MFC.

If Goodwin thinks he can get close to his best after a decent preseason then I'm sure he'll be retained.  I'm interested in putting the best team out there to win games of footy and if he makes us better I want him there.  If they think his legs are cooked then the decision is easy.

The states are run by incompetent fools, of which the likes we've rarely been seen, however, their laws need to be respected, as do the requirements of the AFL and the MFC.

It's a poor decision, but certainly one I can forgive.  I suspect I'm in the minority and that the virtuous souls that post here would never err in such a way.

[Hogan2014 390]

Just another kick in the guts for the club & members ... miss finals & then cop this..  

[Laughing Goat 308]

Ha ha.....this had disaster written all over it & most of us were right.

I feel sorry for the players who were 'bumped' aside who actually love the club & had the brains & common sense to at least tow the line.

See ya HB

 

 

[Fanatique Demon 2,641]

6 hours ago, John Demonic said:

Collingwood beating Port and Lynden Dunn carrying on will be the final nail after the Dogs get up today 

Sorry, John Demonic. I clicked the angry icon instead of the smiley one.  We're cool. 

[Lord Nev 13,512]

Nowhere near as bad as has been made out by a rabid and not very factually concerned media who only care about being first.

Bloke has made a mistake and owned up, story has been overblown though.

 

[binman 42,475]

Blimey people like a pile on.

How about we get the full facts,   but based on what we have seen he has made a blue, but in isolation (pardon the lun) surely not one so grave we wouldn't offer him a contract next season. 

No worse than the blue made by spargo and kozzie, and i don't recall anyone saying we should let either of tbe go 

[Jaded No More 68,839]

53 minutes ago, titan_uranus said:

 

@Jaded - props to you for sharing your story.

I suppose it's too much to expect@Elegt to respond.

Thanks. I’m extremely lucky in the scheme of things and I have managed to find a new job recently, thanks to years of building industry contacts. 
Many of us have had a horrible year. I hope we come out of it wiser, more appreciative and most importantly kinder. 
 

On a lighter note, Titus has nailed today well 

 

[Jaded No More 68,839]

15 minutes ago, Hannibal Inc. said:

OK, so clearly Bennell made a poor decision and disregarded maniacal lockdown rules.  I suspect he did it as he knew his season was over, but it flew in the face of the club, leagues and state protocols.  It's disappointing when one considers the chance he's been given by the MFC.

If Goodwin thinks he can get close to his best after a decent preseason then I'm sure he'll be retained.  I'm interested in putting the best team out there to win games of footy and if he makes us better I want him there.  If they think his legs are cooked then the decision is easy.

The states are run by incompetent fools, of which the likes we've rarely been seen, however, their laws need to be respected, as do the requirements of the AFL and the MFC.

It's a poor decision, but certainly one I can forgive.  I suspect I'm in the minority and that the virtuous souls that post here would never err in such a way.

I think the poor decision can be forgiven in isolation. We are all humans and we all make mistakes. Albeit this was a very clear cut “no no”. 
The problem is that Bennell has a history of poor behavioral choices. It’s the repetitive nature of his mistakes, particularly when it comes to substances, that is of major concern.

He will miss 4 matches next season regardless of how his body holds up. If they want to give him a year on a heavily incentivized contract, then so be it. But when he has played, he was timid and did not put in anywhere near the required effort for an AFL player. So whether he stays or goes, I don’t think it will impact our 2021 performance in the slightest. 

[Rab D Nesbitt 8,336]

Two conflicting stories on this so far. Best to let things play out and let calmer heads prevail I think. 

[Jaded No More 68,839]

3 minutes ago, Rab D Nesbitt said:

Two conflicting stories on this so far. Best to let things play out and let calmer heads prevail I think. 

Conflicting stories or not, a 4 match ban and $50k fine is not something the AFL hands out for nothing. 

[spirit of norm smith 16,195]

1 hour ago, Earl Hood said:

That might be it for Harley. Sad really. 

Exactly. Very sad. Very disappointing. But terribly stupid and the ultimate penalty could be more severe. He is likely to be delisted as we cannot tolerate this behavior no matter how remorseful he is.

[dazzledavey36 54,098]

Oh dear saty....

https://mobile.twitter.com/Demonpk/status/1307653935910367233

[Vineytime 842]

50k & 4 week suspension tells you it’s a serious breach, been in the system for long enough with many chances to know better. 
Goodbye. 

[Rab D Nesbitt 8,336]

5 minutes ago, Jaded said:

Conflicting stories or not, a 4 match ban and $50k fine is not something the AFL hands out for nothing. 

Not sure Jaded but that might be the current starting point for a second breach by a club. I'm sure all of the facts will come out soon enough so we won't be in the dark for long. 

[Moonshadow 17,673]

40 minutes ago, Hannibal Inc. said:

OK, so clearly Bennell made a poor decision and disregarded maniacal lockdown rules.  I suspect he did it as he knew his season was over, but it flew in the face of the club, leagues and state protocols.  It's disappointing when one considers the chance he's been given by the MFC.

If Goodwin thinks he can get close to his best after a decent preseason then I'm sure he'll be retained.  I'm interested in putting the best team out there to win games of footy and if he makes us better I want him there.  If they think his legs are cooked then the decision is easy.

The states are run by incompetent fools, of which the likes we've rarely been seen, however, their laws need to be respected, as do the requirements of the AFL and the MFC.

It's a poor decision, but certainly one I can forgive.  I suspect I'm in the minority and that the virtuous souls that post here would never err in such a way.

Good to see you back to your cutting best, PD

Stick around, I'm sure your going to find lots of low hanging fruit

[Jaded No More 68,839]

Club statement 

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/816897?fbclid=IwAR0nXtU_jaoz0PnekIoQuCTCXoRFpGSKlxGIqZqQR_3bG39GHun9voiMd94

[Age 485]

What will annoy me with Bennell will be that if the club was thinking sacking the coach, I believe this fine comes off our soft cap next year and may be enough for them to keep him on. That is unforgivable for me!

[cantstandyasam 700]

17 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Oh dear saty....

https://mobile.twitter.com/Demonpk/status/1307653935910367233

Good point similar to Steele Sidebottom  situation and noone was saying dump him.

[Little Goffy 14,403]

21 minutes ago, Jaded said:

Conflicting stories or not, a 4 match ban and $50k fine is not something the AFL hands out for nothing. 

Alex Neal-Bullen might disagree.  But, seriously, very little information around on what actually happened, but it would NOT appear to be some kind of boozy kebab-and-strip adventure so maybe we should pause a moment.

From The Australian (first time I've quoted them as a source on anything for a while!)

"It is understood he had made arrangements to organise a bigger car for his young family as the Demons prepared for their last game of the home and away season against Essendon.

Bennell, 27, ran out of petrol on the trip and was found by police, who drove Bennell to the petrol station to fill up.

He was breath-tested by police when he was found on Saturday and is understood to have had some drinks at the hotel on the previous night"

 

Being breath tested, you'd think if he was particularly boozy the drink-driving would be part of the story, so he must have blown under .05.

 

[dazzledavey36 54,098]

2 minutes ago, cantstandyasam said:

Good point similar to Steele Sidebottom  situation and noone was saying dump him.

No i would say its similar. Sidebottom copped his fair share on social media and from journo's as well. The naked jokes were well and truly popular.

To think there is a racial profile from this is incredibly poor taste.

[Jaded No More 68,839]

3 minutes ago, Little Goffy said:

Alex Neal-Bullen might disagree.  But, seriously, very little information around on what actually happened, but it would NOT appear to be some kind of boozy kebab-and-strip adventure so maybe we should pause a moment.

From The Australian (first time I've quoted them as a source on anything for a while!)

"It is understood he had made arrangements to organise a bigger car for his young family as the Demons prepared for their last game of the home and away season against Essendon.

Bennell, 27, ran out of petrol on the trip and was found by police, who drove Bennell to the petrol station to fill up.

He was breath-tested by police when he was found on Saturday and is understood to have had some drinks at the hotel on the previous night"

 

Being breath tested, you'd think if he was particularly boozy the drink-driving would be part of the story, so he must have blown under .05.

 

Club statement suggest he was at an unauthorized household. I don’t even know what that means, but Pert does not sound pleased. 

[Lucifers Hero 39,320]

14 minutes ago, cantstandyasam said:

Good point similar to Steele Sidebottom  situation and noone was saying dump him.

The difference is that Sidebottom's breach was not at an interstate Hub.  Quite different rules and fines for Hub breaches.

Having said that we should have 50% of the fine suspended as Collingwood did for the Sanderson/Buckley Hub breach. 

It seems we didn't get it because of the Spargo/Kozzie breach which were not while in Hubs so imv shouldn't count as a first offence as Sidebottom's didn't. 

 

Edited September 20, 2020 by Lucifer's Hero

[Pates 9,650]

7 minutes ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

The difference is that Sidebottom's breach was not at an interstate Hub.  Quite different rules and fines for Hub breaches.

Having said that we should have 50% of the fine suspended as Collingwood did for the Sanderson/Buckley Hub breach. 

It seems we didn't get it because of the Spargo/Kozzie breach which were not while in Hubs so imv shouldn't count as a first offence as Sidebottom's didn't. 

That's my take as well, I feel like we're getting a harder punishment than other clubs.

[kallangurdemon 551]

We  have had Kossie ,Stack ,isiah Taylor and now Harley .Perhaps the indigenous players cant  cope  with hub life  and make bad decisions. Maybe  the  AFL should examine alternatives to existing arrangements  rather than just fining clubs .

[DEE fence 5,002]

My mail is this is not a story about 'booze', lets give it 24 hours before we assemble the bonfire, get some facts, the guy has been getting his running going again, has been a long way off sustaining his high intensity running and you would have to think with a  preseason his numbers could be good. All season he did not breakdown or re injure himself. And if this incident does resolve around getting a bigger car and a car seat for a kid, while STUPID, is not the end of the world. Wasn't like he was doing lines with  Karmichael Hunt.

Edited September 20, 2020 by DaisyDeeciple
which K.(hunt)