Charge against former AFL star Harley Bennell dropped in Geelong Magistrates Court

A charge of theft of a motor vehicle against former AFL star Harley Bennell, who played for three clubs, has been dropped.

Harley Bennell playing for Melbourne in 2020. Picture. Phil Hillyard

A charge of theft of a motor vehicle against former AFL star Harley Bennell has been dropped.

Harley Bennell, 31, did not appear in Geelong Magistrates Court on Thursday when the matter was dealt with.

The matter was listed for a mention and the prosecuting division on the listing was Torquay Criminal Investigation Unit.

It is not known when the No. 2 draft pick was charged, or what the instigating incident was.

Police prosecutor Leading Senior Constable David Vanderpol did not give a reason as to why the charge was being withdrawn, and magistrate Simon Guthrie dealt with the matter swiftly.

Mr Bennell previously appeared in Geelong Magistrates Court in person for a mention last month, however the matter was adjourned.

A spokeswoman for Victoria Police said she could not comment on the matter.

Bennell was listed to be represented by Australia-wide law firm SLF Lawyers.

It is not the first time the talented footballer has found himself in hot water.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, the AFL fined the Demons $50,000 and suspended Bennell for a quartet of games after he breached the league’s Covid policies during the 2020 season.

In 2015, a photo of Bennell featuring a ‘white powder’ substance in Launceston in 2013 was published by the Herald Sun.

Earmarked as a talent from an early age, Bennell was taken with the second pick of the 2010 AFL national draft by the Gold Coast Suns.

In 2012, he had a breakout year and finished second in the club’s best and fairest award, behind Gary Ablett Jr.

He played 88 games across three clubs, the Gold Coast Suns, Fremantle Dockers and Melbourne Demons, before announcing his retirement in September 2020.

He managed just two games in four years for the Dockers, and five for Melbourne in one season.

Bennell played football all over the country in 2023, with nine senior games for the Harvey Bulls in the South West Football League and two for Port Melbourne in the VFL.

He also starred for the Tiwi Bombers in the NTFL, playing a representative match for the Northern Territory against South Fremantle in January this year.

Originally published as Charge against former AFL star Harley Bennell dropped in Geelong Magistrates Court