Free Agency Harley Bennell [joins Melbourne as a delisted free agent]

[Dez!]

He has been ruled out for half the year - those saying he was fine missed something.

He's been ruled out of AFL before June which everyone already knew would be the case, nothing has changed.

He'll be playing VFL pretty early, not the first few rounds.

 

[Wild Bill]

He's been ruled out of AFL before June which everyone already knew would be the case, nothing has changed.

He'll be playing VFL pretty early, not the first few rounds.

Which is half the season.

I’m everyone - I didn’t know he would miss half the season.

 

[markm106]

Which is half the season.

I’m everyone - I didn’t know he would miss half the season.

It’s probably the first time the club has put any sort of timeline on it. Most track watchers had him miss first 6 or so weeks. Then you’d assume he’d spend a month in the VFL. I’d be happy to get him up and running in the back half of the year. In any event his recruitment wasn’t solely based on His output this year. They’d be hoping to get his calves right and to get a number of years.

 

[Wild Bill]

It’s probably the first time the club has put any sort of timeline on it. Most track watchers had him miss first 6 or so weeks. Then you’d assume he’d spend a month in the VFL. I’d be happy to get him up and running in the back half of the year. In any event his recruitment wasn’t solely based on His output this year. They’d be hoping to get his calves right and to get a number of years.

How long is his contract?

 

[markm106]

How long is his contract?

One year. Why would we offer more now? No one was expecting him to get near 22 games this year. If he gets fit and plays good footy he’d unlikely be looking to sign elsewhere next season.

 

[The 747]

Good luck to him. Awesome to watch when fit and firing.

He was awesome to watch when fit and firing, some five years ago.

 

[Wild Bill]

He's been ruled out of AFL before June which everyone already knew would be the case, nothing has changed.

He'll be playing VFL pretty early, not the first few rounds.

The age is reporting another calf strain. Even on the low level with his history this will keep him out for a while.

 

[dazzledavey36]

Goodwin mentioned on 3aw today that Bennell is a big chance to debut this weekend against the blues.

 

[Freomaniac]

Goodwin mentioned on 3aw today that Bennell is a big chance to debut this weekend against the blues.

awesome news if true

 

[Freomaniac]

2016: 0 games
2017: 2 games
2018: 0 games
2019: 0 games

He's literally been in the news for off field stuff more times than he has been in the side. Would be surprised if any team picked him up.

Yeah 2 AFL games in a 4 year period isnt good.

However....

WAFL FootyFacts - BENNELL, Harley

WAFL player records, Individual WAFL player stats page, career player stats by season, game, opponent and venue

waflfootyfacts.net

WAFL games for Peel thunder

2016: 1 game

2017: 4 games (All late in the season) He played all 4 games late in the season then the last 2 dockers games of 2017.

2018: 11 games

2019: 4 games

So yeah 2 AFL games in 4 years. Yet Freo let him play in the WAFL to build up his fitness and endurance. Slowly by letting him play half a WAFL game then 3/4s of a WAFL game then a couple of Full WAFL games then play for the dockers