AFL 2020: Melbourne coach backs Angus Brayshaw but won;t risk Harley Bennell with quick backups to come

Veteran Harley Bennell will miss again for Melbourne but coach Simon Goodwin backs another out-of-sorts midfielder.

Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin has strongly defended out-of-touch midfielder Angus Brayshaw and declared him a certain starter against Port Adelaide at the Gabba on Thursday night.

Harley Bennell will miss the clash with Port as the Demons continue to monitor his return to senior footy after so many years of frustration with soft tissue injuries.

The 27-year-old has played four matches this season, including the past three consecutively, but had no impact against the Lions on Sunday night.

“Harley has done an incredible job to get his body to a position where he can play consistent AFL footy,” Goodwin said.

“We just thought that with the four-day break, at this stage it‘s not a risk we were willing to take.”

Brayshaw‘s form has been the focus of plenty of scrutiny this season, and last week he played just 65 per cent game time in his side’s four-point loss to Brisbane.

We'll have at least one change for Round 9, with Harley Bennell set to be managed this week.

Simon Goodwin gave an update to media this afternoon. 👇

📝: https://t.co/oK9Z2D2aFl

— Melbourne Demons (@melbournefc) July 29, 2020

The 24-year-old shocked the footy world when he polled 21 votes to finish third in the 2018 Brownlow medal, averaging more than 26 possessions per game.

However, his numbers have dropped remarkably since, and he‘s managed just under 15 per match in 2020.

Brayshaw gathered with just nine disposals against the Lions, his lowest tally since round five 2016, his second season in the League.

Goodwin didn‘t hold back when reporters quizzed him about Brayshaw’s game time last week, and whether he still has a spot in Melbourne’s best 22.

“Look it‘s a subject I’m sick of talking about,” Goodwin said on Wednesday.

“The three previous weeks he had 79, 77 and 82 (minutes of game time).

“He got stuck on the bench a couple of times on rotation and there weren‘t many goals scored in the game.

“It‘s a non-topic for me and something we should all move on from.

“Angus will be playing (against Port Adelaide).

“He‘s a really good player, he obviously had a quiet game last week, but his form leading up to that had been solid.

“He probably hasn‘t quite been at his best, but we’ll get a response out of Angus and he’ll be back to his best very soon.”

Star Demons ruckman Max Gawn had 41 hit outs against the Lions in round eight but his midfielders couldn‘t take advantage of the captain’s dominance.

Melbourne were -13 for clearances for the game, which included a 11-6 deficit at centre bounces, and a 24-16 smashing at stoppages.

Goodwin said that the Dees have put plenty of work into that area this week despite the quick turnaround.

“We‘ve spent a lot of time with our mids over the last couple of days, reviewing what took place and how we can build that better connection (with Gawn),” he said.

“It‘s been a clear focus for us and the mids have really owned it, and they want to get that connection back to the level we need as a footy club.”

Originally published as AFL 2020: Melbourne coach backs Angus Brayshaw but won;t risk Harley Bennell with quick backups to come