Harley Bennell has become a Demons listed player for 2020 despite fresh calf injury
A recent injury setback hasn’t scared off Melbourne, with Harley Bennell officially becoming a Demon for season 2020 through the supplemental selection period.
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Injury riddled midfielder Harley Bennell is now a Demon after being signed as a pre-season supplemental selection.
Bennell joined his third club as a rookie for season 2020 after paperwork was lodged for the 27-year-old on Tuesday night.
The luckless talent had been training with Melbourne since December in search of an AFL lifeline.
His bid to revive his AFL career appeared to hit a roadblock when he suffered another calf setback in the past fortnight, but Melbourne football boss Josh Mahoney insists he has done enough to earn a spot on their list.
Paperwork lodged: @MelbourneFC have signed Harley Bennell as a Pre-Season Supplemental Selection.
— AFL House (@AFL_House) February 4, 2020
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“We are really pleased to welcome Harley to Melbourne through the SSP, and officially have him as part of our list for the 2020 season,” Mahoney told the club website.
“Since joining us to train in December, Harley has shown nothing but commitment to his individualised program and to the club.
“Although he has faced some minor setbacks over the past two months, he has taken this opportunity with both hands, and maintained a strong, positive outlook.
Harley’s a Demon. 🔒
— Melbourne Demons (@melbournefc) February 4, 2020
We’ve signed the former Docker + Sun with our Pre-Season Supplemental Selection.
ðŸ“: https://t.co/GVUGj48R9M
“Harley’s positive attitude has seen him been embraced by the playing group and seen him develop close relationships in a short time.
“We’re excited to be able to reward him for his efforts so far and give him further opportunity to reach his full potential.”
Bennell was delisted by Fremantle at the end of 2019 after being perennially injured at his former club, with repeat calf setbacks restricting him to just two games in four seasons.
Mahoney said Bennell’s latest calf injury isn’t serious.
“There’s probably two or three things we’re looking at and the calf is obviously a major one, we want him to get back and playing but it (the latest injury) hasn’t impacted our decision either way,” Mahoney told SEN yesterday.
“It was on the very minor scale and pushed him back three days in his rehab,” he said.
“When we first brought Harley to come and train on we knew there was going to be some minor setbacks along the way given that he’s done his calf I think over 20 times.
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“At this stage we wouldn’t say it was a surprise that he was going to hurt himself. Obviously you’d want him to go through his rehab and not have any bumps along the way but we were half expecting that.”
The Demons have put to bed fears star ruckman Max Gawn won’t be fit for Round 1, declaring he’ll be back running next week after suffering a knee injury.
Gawn has been cleared of serious damage to his knee, with scans revealing a grade two strain of his left medial ligament.
He will wear a knee brace for a week but will be back running next week.
“He’ll be back running around on Monday and possibly ready to play a game in three or four weeks time,” Mahoney said on SEN yesterday.
Originally published as Harley Bennell has become a Demons listed player for 2020 despite fresh calf injury