Harley Bennell reflects on first AFL game in 1021 days after successful Melbourne debut against Carlton
Harley Bennell has revealed he received messages of support from some of the AFL’s biggest stars ahead of his first AFL game in more than 1000 days on Saturday.
Melbourne
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A quick scan of Harley Bennell’s mobile phone would have provided an insight into his standing in football.
Text messages from three of the game’s biggest names — Lance Franklin, Dustin Martin and Bennell’s former Suns teammate Gary Ablett — and a host of other messages of goodwill came for the 27-year-old who never gave up on reviving his AFL career after 25 calf tears.
Saturday marked his first AFL game in 1021 days and ended with a nailbiting one-point victory for Bennell’s Melbourne over Carlton.
An elated Bennell told the Sunday Herald Sun he couldn’t believe he was back playing football at the highest level again.
“I can’t believe the support I got before the game,” he said.
“Three of the best players of the past decade sent me a message — Gaz (Ablett), Buddy (Franklin) and Dusty (Martin).
“They have all reached out and it means a lot to me.”
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Bennell heaped praise on the Demons’ players for making him and his partner Amy — and their daughter Carter-Ivy (who turns one soon) — feel so welcome.
“It’s like one big family,” he said.
Bennell said coach Simon Goodwin had provided a fresh set of eyes on his game and extraordinary support since their first meeting last October.
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And he said Melbourne’s conditioning staff, headed by Darren Burgess, had thankfully given him one last shot at resurrecting a career many thought was over.
“I can’t thank the club enough, mate,” Bennell said.
“It’s a fairytale. It’s a massive relief. I’ve pulled up really well, no niggles or anything, which is good.”
Bennell had 14 disposals in his return match from 50 per cent game time — his 84th game overall from his 10 seasons including time at the Suns and the Dockers.
He started each quarter on the bench in an effort to ease back in and will gradually build more minutes as the season rolls on.
“That was something that was planned. I was happy to come off whenever they needed me to come off,” he said.
“I was fine with that as long as we were winning.
“It wasn’t about (Saturday’s game); it’s about the next 10 to 20 weeks hopefully.”
Through his time at Gold Coast, the exceptionally talented Bennell endured a few issues on and off the field only to find that those injury woes became more frustrating when he moved to Fremantle.
He just couldn’t get his body right with the Dockers — with his last game for them coming in Round 23, 2017, kicking three goals in a losing team that day.
Incredibly, Saturday was his first AFL win in almost five years, something that made him sing the Demons’ song (twice) with gusto.
He didn’t know the words, except for the first few lines.
“My best mate (Nathan Wilson) used to play for Centrals back home (in Western Australia) and I rang him during the week and said to him, ‘What are the words?’ Bennell said.
“I knew the first bit of the song, but was acting like I was drinking Gatorade in the second part.”
Now that he is back, and forming an important part of Melbourne’s team, he should have the song word perfect for the next victory.
Originally published as Harley Bennell reflects on first AFL game in 1021 days after successful Melbourne debut against Carlton