AFL 2020: Melbourne coach says recruit Harley Bennell not automatic selection after ‘needs-based’ debut
With competition for spots finally strong at Melbourne, coach Simon Goodwin says Harley Bennell is a long way off being a walk-up start in the side despite good reviews of his Demons debut in Round 2.
Melbourne
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Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin says recruit Harley Bennell has to work on his “contest and defensive elements” to get back into the Demons line-up.
Bennell was the feel-good story when the AFL season resumed last month, playing just his third AFL match since 2015 and his first since 2017 against Carlton in Round 2.
But the 27-year-old was dropped after his 14-disposal debut for Melbourne and instead played in a scratch match against Geelong last weekend rather than at the MCG last Sunday.
Goodwin said Bennell was given that first match on a “needs basis”, with players including Kysiah Pickett and Mitch Hannan unavailable.
He said Bennell would continue to be a role player at the Demons and needed to finetune crucial elements of his game to get back in the team, with the competition for spots as strong as it had for years.
“Harley is still working on some things in his game that we are working with him. He’s missed a lot of footy,” Goodwin said on Thursday.
“From his role that he needs to play, and we have spoken to Harley, he is still building his ability to run at the right intensity to run for long enough. On the weekend that was much improved, especially on the offensive side of the ball.
“We’re continuing to work with him certainly around his contest and defensive elements of his game that is required within his role.
“He’s missed a lot of footy so our expectation is he’s not going to be perfect in that space.
“He does bring something unique to our team, but we just need to make sure he can fill that role to the best of his ability.
“ In Round 2 we didn’t have Kossie Pickett available. Harley got a game in that role based on a on a needs perspective.
“We’ve been really clear that it’s going to be a role-for-role type selection for us. He got that game based on availability of people within that tole.
“Now he has to work a little bit harder to get back into the team.
“It’s been a long time since we had this pressure for spots.”
After making seven changes from Rounds 1 to 2, and then five more from Rounds 2 to 4, with the Round 3 game postponed, Goodwin said he was looking for “continuity” in selection.
“We need to settle our team,” he said.
Goodwin said the Demons were “up for anything” when it came to the prospect of moving into an interstate hub.
He said the club expected a week’s notice in order to deal with any players who voiced concerns about going, concerns he would certainly listen to.
“Clearly there will be circumstances and individuals that the club will really try and prioritise, and we know the AFL and the clubs are working really hard to look after not only the payers but their families as well,” he said.
“We’ll cross that when we come to it. But collectively as a club we want to play the game. We have a responsibility to really service the game and play it the best we can anywhere in Australia.”
Originally published as AFL 2020: Melbourne coach says recruit Harley Bennell not automatic selection after ‘needs-based’ debut