Harley Bennell under investigation after alleged COVID breach

Another AFL player has broken the league’s strict biosecurity protocols, with Harley Bennell caught in an alleged drinking session.

Another AFL player has broken the league’s strict biosecurity protocols, with Harley Bennell caught in an alleged drinking session.

Melbourne Demons midfielder Harley Bennell has reportedly breached the AFL’s biosecurity protocols in Queensland.

The Herald Sun’s Jon Ralph first revealed Melbourne had reported Bennell to the AFL after an alleged drinking session on Saturday.

Both the AFL and the Demons are completing an investigation on the incident.

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Melbourne released a statement on the potential breach on Sunday afternoon.

Harley Bennell of the Melbourne Demons.

“The Melbourne Football Club is aware of a potential breach of the AFL’s COVID-19 protocols involving player Harley Bennell,” the statement read.

“The club has notified the AFL, who are investigating the matter.

“Whilst the club and the AFL are in the process of establishing the facts, Harley will remain in an off-site isolation location, to remove any possibility of contaminating the Twin Waters high performance hub.

“As the matter is being investigated, the club is not in a position to comment further.”

Bennell left the demons hub Friday night or Saturday morning. He hasn’t returned since. The demons isolating him in a seperate location. While the demons and AFL investigate. Melbourne reported the breach

— Tom Browne (@TomBrowne7) September 20, 2020

Former Fremantle Dockers coach Ross Lyon reacted to the news on Triple M.

“Very concerning. I spoke to Harley on Friday, we had a conversation about not being picked and what the future looks like,” Lyon said on Sunday.

“He was really committed to Melbourne, it seemed like they’d committed to him. I think if he’s been out ... the concern for him is the exit interviews ... that’s disappointing, he’s up there with (partner) Amy and (child) Carter.

“I hope he’s OK because a lot of pressure is going to come but he’d been perfect.

“Yeah, concerning. On the surface he seems to have maybe made an error.”

Bennell has played five AFL matches and kicked three goals for the Demons since he joined the club earlier this year.

After winning Saturday afternoon’s match against the Essendon Bombers, Melbourne has a chance of qualifying for the AFL finals, but need the Fremantle Dockers to defeat the Western Bulldogs on Sunday evening to stay in the top eight.