Jump to content

2020 Player Reviews: #17 Harley Bennell

Demonland
Demonland
in Melbourne Demons

Featured Replies

Posted

2020 Player Reviews: #17 Harley Bennell

Put in a tremendous effort just to get on the field and play five games after overcoming recurring calf issues and he was on the verge of receiving a contract offer for next year when he left the club’s hub in breach of Covid19 rules and consequently was delisted.

Date of Birth: 2 October, 1992

Height: 185cm

Weight: 74kg

Games MFC 2020: 5

Career Total: 88

Goals MFC 2020: 3

Career Total: 98

  • Quote
    •  

    One of the great disappointments of 2020, especially concerning the time effort and money put into his rehabilitation! Again, most disappointing!

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    • Sad 1
     

    An absolute bomb of an investment. Didn't play well in any games except for some glimpses in the NSW hub games.

    If we did re-sign for next year, he wouldn't be in my best 22.

    Good on us for supporting him but I can't see any more left field selections for a while.

  • Quote

    Makes you sad this one. Will never fully know what happened during the season and why he couldn't get more games but it sounded like he was progressing well enough to earn another deal until, well yeah. 

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    • Thanks 2

    Don't think we will hear anything about what's going on here one way or the other until we do....why did i say that?

  • Quote
    • Haha 1

    Hope for Harleys sake and his family things work out 

    He thought he wanted an AFL career but as it turned out that didn’t seem to be the no1 priority 

    I hope his priorities are in the right order - hopefully if it’s not footy and family first  then it’s family first and anything else a distant second 

  • Quote

    Every punter has their share of 'busts'.  We took a punt on a long-shot and it failed to deliver.  Well done Dees for giving Harley another shot in a field where he had previously excelled!  It might have been a 'masterstroke' for all parties. 

    Tough times ahead for Harley and his family, I'd imagine.  Hope he manages to fight off his inner 'demons'.

     

    Edited by Deeoldfart

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    • Love 2
     
    On 11/13/2020 at 10:54 AM, Dee Dee said:

    One of the great disappointments of 2020, especially concerning the time effort and money put into his rehabilitation! Again, most disappointing!

    Given everything that has gone on in 2020, I'm hoping the decision to pick up HB is well down your list of great disappointments?

  • Quote
    • Like 1

    Really had my hopes up for Harley. Good luck to him and his lovely family. Keep battling and maybe with maturity and time his inner demons will give him a break.

  • Quote

    Sad end to what looked like it could be a promising new beginning. Obviously it's a private matter but it would still be interesting to know what triggered his getting on the booze when for the most it sounds like he did everything that was expected of him and was seemingly quite well liked by his teammates.

    Whatever happens with him I hope he's able to get himself right for his family, I imagine he's got a long difficult battle ahead.

    (I still can't help but wonder whether things would have turned out better for him if he'd managed to have a full season is a normal AFL environment rather than the COVID bubble)

  • Quote
    • Like 2
    • Love 1

    We took a punt that cost us little and ultimately delivered nothing, so we move on.

    I hope Harley doesn't sit back in a few years and think what might have been if he had been able to see this season through.

  • Quote
    • Thanks 1
    1 hour ago, poita said:

    We took a punt that cost us little and ultimately delivered nothing, so we move on.

    I hope Harley doesn't sit back in a few years and think what might have been if he had been able to see this season through.

    Cost us 50 grand and that was after he wasn't playing again. I personally wanted to give the Filth Backman a go, wished we choose him instead of Bennell. P.s not that I know 5hit from me elbow tho. And don't claim to, only my opinion. 

  • Quote

    Wretched way to end his career. Slogged his guts out to get back to AFL level for it all to fall apart at the death. I was highly critical at the time but have more sympathy knowing the full circumstances. Hope HB can find contentment in retirement.

    Credit to Burgess and his team for getting him back to fitness. Alas it didn’t work out but nothing ventured nothing gained. Didn’t cost us too much. The potential upside justified the punt imv.

  • Quote
    • Thanks 1

    Seemed to be running half paced the whole time, hard to tell whether it was effort or just the cooked calves. Great skills though

  • Quote

    9 hours ago, Elegt said:

    Seemed to be running half paced the whole time, hard to tell whether it was effort or just the cooked calves. Great skills though

    I reckon it was hesitation due to mental scarring.  When he didn't have time to think of the consequences, he still showed he had his freakish ability.  Same it was only 2 or 3 times a game, rather than 20.

    People are complaining about the waste of money it was - it would've been bugger all.

    I'm glad the club took the punt.  Didn't work out, we move on basically unscathed.

  • Quote

    • Join the conversation

    You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

    Guest
    Unfortunately, your content contains terms that we do not allow. Please edit your content to remove the highlighted words below.
    Reply to this topic...
    Go to topic listing

    Featured Content

    • CASEY: Geelong

      There was a time in the second quarter of the game at the Cattery on Friday afternoon when the Casey Demons threatened to take the game apart against the Cats. The Demons had been well on top early but were struggling to convert their ascendancy over the ground until Tom Fullarton’s burst of three goals in the space of eight minutes on the way to a five goal haul and his best game for the club since arriving from Brisbane at the end of 2023. He was leading, marking and otherwise giving his opponents a merry dance as Casey grabbed a three goal lead in the blink of an eye. Fullarton has now kicked ten goals in Casey’s three matches and, with Melbourne’s forward conversion woes, he is definitely in with a chance to get his first game with the club in next week’s Gather Round in Adelaide. Despite the tall forward’s efforts - he finished with 19 disposals and eight marks and had four hit outs as back up to Will Verrall in the second half - it wasn’t enough as Geelong reigned in the lead through persistent attacks and eventually clawed their way to the lead early in the last and held it till they achieved the end aim of victory.

      • 0 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • REPORT: Geelong

      I was disappointed to hear Goody say at his post match presser after the team’s 39 point defeat against Geelong that "we're getting high quality entry, just poor execution" because Melbourne’s problems extend far beyond that after its 0 - 4 start to the 2025 football season. There are clearly problems with poor execution, some of which were evident well before the current season and were in play when the Demons met the Cats in early May last year and beat them in a near top-of-the-table clash that saw both sides sitting comfortably in the top four after round eight. Since that game, the Demons’ performances have been positively Third World with only five wins in 19 games with a no longer majestic midfield and a dysfunctional forward line that has become too easy for opposing coaches to counter. This is an area of their game that is currently being played out as if they were all completely panic-stricken.

      • 0 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • PREGAME: Essendon

      Facing the very real and daunting prospect of starting the season with five straight losses, the Demons head to South Australia for the annual Gather Round, where they’ll take on the Bombers in search of their first win of the year. Who comes in, and who comes out?

        • Like
      • 166 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • NON-MFC: Round 04

      Round 4 kicks off with a blockbuster on Thursday night as traditional rivals Collingwood and Carlton clash at the MCG, with the Magpies looking to assert themselves as early-season contenders and the Blues seeking their first win of the season. Saturday opens with Gold Coast hosting Adelaide, a key test for the Suns as they aim to back up their big win last week, while the Crows will be looking to keep their perfect record intact. Reigning wooden spooners Richmond have the daunting task of facing reigning premiers Brisbane at the ‘G and the Lions will be eager to reaffirm their premiership credentials after a patchy start. Saturday night sees North Melbourne take on Sydney at Marvel Stadium, with the Swans looking to build on their first win of the season last week against a rebuilding Roos outfit. Sunday’s action begins with GWS hosting West Coast at ENGIE Stadium, a game that could get ugly very early for the visitors. Port Adelaide vs St Kilda at Adelaide Oval looms as a interesting clash, with both clubs form being very hard to read. The round wraps up with Fremantle taking on the Western Bulldogs at Optus Stadium in what could be a fierce contest between two sides with top-eight ambitions. Who are you tipping this week and what are the best results for the Demons besides us winning?

      • 273 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • PODCAST: Geelong

      The Demonland Podcast will air LIVE on Monday, 7th April @ the all new time of 8:00pm. Join Binman, George & I as we dissect another Demons loss at Kardinia Park to the Cats in the Round 04. Your questions and comments are a huge part of our podcast so please post anything you want to ask or say below and we'll give you a shout out on the show. If you would like to leave us a voicemail please call 03 9016 3666 and don't worry no body answers so you don't have to talk to a human.

      • 40 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • VOTES: Geelong

      Captain Max Gawn leads the Demonland Player of the Year in his quest to take out his 3rd trophy. He leads Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver who are in equal 2nd place followed by Kade Chandler and Jake Bowey. You votes please. 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 & 1.

        • Like
      • 29 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland
    View All