Harley Bennell?

[Diamond_Jim 12,554]

11 minutes ago, gs77 said:

Base level with plenty of incentives for # games in the 1s.  He's 28 next month, so I'm not sure how many other clubs would be in the market...?

At least 6 clubs would match that easily is my guess.

He'll be going for guarantees. Remember he's now had one full year in a training regime. He's not the unknown risk he was at the end of 2019

[Cheap Seats 3,310]

1 hour ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Just hope he's given a contract to prove his worth with a full pre season.

Yeh i hope so as well.

I dont know the situation but afl list cuts and our list cut is going to be very interesting.

 

[old dee 23,782]

8 minutes ago, Diamond_Jim said:

At least 6 clubs would match that easily is my guess.

He'll be going for guarantees. Remember he's now had one full year in a training regime. He's not the unknown risk he was at the end of 2019

If it was not for his early record would he have any games this season. I suspect none.

I would want to see a lot more before i offered a contract for next year.

If the rumour is true Then I am on the MFC side. Put up or shut up in the next 3 games.

[Diamond_Jim 12,554]

2 minutes ago, old dee said:

If it was not for his early record would he have any games this season. I suspect none.

I would want to see a lot more before i offered a contract for next year.

If the rumour is true Then I am on the MFC side. Put up or shut up in the next 3 games.

Agree.... tough but fair

[daisycutter 29,606]

24 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

This hasn't been confirmed.

In fact Liam Pickering on SEN yesterday thinks there will be no list size cuts as its being left late in the season for that decision. 

 

if no list cuts then that would suggest across the board pay reductions.

guess it all depends on aflpa negotiations, being a choice of smaller lists or pay reductions

if social distancing etc extends into next season as is expected things will get even tougher financially for the afl

[layzie 33,767]

I want to see him get another game but I'm leaning towards the club side too. There's clearly a reason he hasn't been in the mix, hope he can do enough for another deal but there's a lot to be done before that.

[Skuit 10,031]

A tiny, tiny sample which is unfair to draw anything from but it did look like Harley was in second gear in the Collingwood scratch-match footage. I agree that he needs to develop trust in his body - but he also needs to be managed psychologically. I have no doubt that it's a two-way dialogue though and would love to see him have another taste vs. Fremantle. 

On the subject of contract issues - Bennell has earned back a lot of goodwill from the wider AFL community this year. If he ditched us now for a few extra bucks that would evaporate overnight, which could in turn jeopardise ongoing recovery from certain behavioural issues. His manager would be negligent in my opinion. The pay-day will come if he makes it back to best 22.   

[Mickey 4,647]

44 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

This hasn't been confirmed.

In fact Liam Pickering on SEN yesterday thinks there will be no list size cuts as its being left late in the season for that decision. 

 

Have read somewhere (can't remember where) that list cuts may be put off til 2022, just to help clubs that already have too many players contracted.

Would make sense and still assist with cutting some of the running costs for clubs without unduly impacting clubs with contract payouts.

[titan_uranus 24,983]

1 hour ago, Diamond_Jim said:

so what contract do you offer him remembering list sizes are being cut and his manager will be shopping him around

Shopping him around?

After everything we did to rehab him and get him back to playing?

Despite the obviously strong relationship he has with May and, it seems, with Goodwin (possibly/probably Burgess too)?

No way.

IMO Bennell's issue is intensity - he hasn't been sprinting or chasing hard enough when he's been in the side. If that's because he's fearful of injuring himself, that's something he has to work on. But I've seen enough to believe he still has the desire to make it, and the talent to be a best 22 player for us. After putting all this work in, I cannot imagine we'd be giving up now.

[Adam The God 30,153]

2 hours ago, titan_uranus said:

Shopping him around?

After everything we did to rehab him and get him back to playing?

Despite the obviously strong relationship he has with May and, it seems, with Goodwin (possibly/probably Burgess too)?

No way.

IMO Bennell's issue is intensity - he hasn't been sprinting or chasing hard enough when he's been in the side. If that's because he's fearful of injuring himself, that's something he has to work on. But I've seen enough to believe he still has the desire to make it, and the talent to be a best 22 player for us. After putting all this work in, I cannot imagine we'd be giving up now.

His intensity isn't much different from Fritsch's all year, and Melksham struggles with intensity too. 

[BW511 2,662]

2 hours ago, A F said:

His intensity isn't much different from Fritsch's all year, and Melksham struggles with intensity too. 

Harley at 80% has them both covered, just need to get him there

Edited September 3, 2020 by BW511

[dazzledavey36 54,441]

Get him in.

If Goodwin justifys having that ghost in Melksham prance around doing sweet [censored] all and not laying any defensive pressure, then Bennell should be taking his spot.

[Adam The God 30,153]

8 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Get him in.

If Goodwin justifys having that ghost in Melksham prance around doing sweet [censored] all and not laying any defensive pressure, then Bennell should be taking his spot.

Gee, Fritsch gets off lightly...

[dazzledavey36 54,441]

1 minute ago, A F said:

Gee, Fritsch gets off lightly...

Yeah he was pissweak. 

I'm dead set over him. Week after week he's let us down with poor kicking for goal.

[Its Time for Another 4,197]

Now finals are almost certainly out of the question why not give him a few games to set him up for next year. Nothing to lose now. 

[Bitter but optimistic 22,223]

1 minute ago, It's Time said:

Now finals are almost certainly out of the question why not give him a few games to set him up for next year. Nothing to lose now. 

Yep! He couldn't make us any worse than we were today

[titan_uranus 24,983]

Certainly can't argue that the forwards tonight were operating at a level of intensity that Bennell can't produce.

I still think Bennell needs to improve that part of his game but I'm more than happy to let him have a crack instead of watching Melksham fail again.

[RalphiusMaximus 6,031]

I'd like to see Bennell play a few more games, especially given his winning % for the team, but if he doesn't that's cool.  He's still not there with his body.  Needs to put on a bit more muscle and get more miles into his legs.  The fat that he's been playing as much as he has this year is a great sign. 

Also, His physicality and defensive pressure is a complete non-issue for me.  Sure, it would be great if he was a tackling machine, but that's not what he was drafted for and it's not what we need him for.  He's on the list because he's a great ball-user and a smooth outside runner.  He's the creative cog we're missing.  Why try to make him into something he's not?  Just use the player he is. 

[WERRIDEE 5,457]

He should play against the Dockers we need his class. No one has class in the side.

[BW511 2,662]

6 hours ago, RalphiusMaximus said:

Also, His physicality and defensive pressure is a complete non-issue for me.  Sure, it would be great if he was a tackling machine, but that's not what he was drafted for and it's not what we need him for.  He's on the list because he's a great ball-user and a smooth outside runner.  He's the creative cog we're missing.  Why try to make him into something he's not?  Just use the player he is. 

This is one of my pet hates, we need different types all across the ground, not robots cut from the same mould in different heights and weight.

Goodwin is particularly fond of the boring inside types and we play a style of footy that reflects it. Aside from Petracca occasionally, who else can break a game open with creativity and flair alone? 

in the period where Goodwin is coaching, any individual excitement has been coached out of our players and it is so sad to watch.

We make the game so bloody difficult, so a half-fit Harley getting 15 high quality touches could be the only that gives supporters a reason to tune in next year.

 

 

 

[titan_uranus 24,983]

1 hour ago, BW511 said:

This is one of my pet hates, we need different types all across the ground, not robots cut from the same mould in different heights and weight.

Goodwin is particularly fond of the boring inside types and we play a style of footy that reflects it. Aside from Petracca occasionally, who else can break a game open with creativity and flair alone? 

in the period where Goodwin is coaching, any individual excitement has been coached out of our players and it is so sad to watch.

We make the game so bloody difficult, so a half-fit Harley getting 15 high quality touches could be the only that gives supporters a reason to tune in next year.

The suggestion isn't that Bennell needs to become a CP/clearance-winning bull.

It's that he needs to be capable of, and willing to, defend.

He has to chase and tackle when the opposition has the ball.

We saw yesterday that when forward half players don't do that (e.g. Melksham and Fritsch), we look terrible and we struggle to score.

[BW511 2,662]

1 hour ago, titan_uranus said:

The suggestion isn't that Bennell needs to become a CP/clearance-winning bull.

It's that he needs to be capable of, and willing to, defend.

He has to chase and tackle when the opposition has the ball.

We saw yesterday that when forward half players don't do that (e.g. Melksham and Fritsch), we look terrible and we struggle to score.

Understand that completely, but both of Fritsch and Melksham don’t do it and they don’t seem to be judged on that alone
 

 

[Willmoy1947 4,082]

20 hours ago, PaulRB said:

I'd not play him again this year.

Needs to build his confidence in body as others have said.

He also needs to build trust and his brand around his contested and defensive intensity/commitment.

Club need to play those players who may contribute to high intensity finals footy, and Harley appears well off that level.

You just brought up a very interesting point which from game ONE this season and sadly i would not need to get to my toes.....