Melbourne will name Harley Bennell for fairytale return against Carlton

Harley Bennell will play his first AFL game since 2017 and just his third in five years when he returns from the wilderness for Melbourne against Carlton on Sunday. The Demons have also confirmed two AFL debuts.

Harley Bennell at Melbourne training last week. Picture: AAP

Harley Bennell will make an extraordinary comeback for Melbourne in Saturday’s clash against Carlton.

The Herald Sun has confirmed the wingman, who was delisted by Fremantle after a run of nightmare calf problems, will play in Round 2.

He was told the news by former Gold Coast Suns teammate Steven May and coach Simon Goodwin at training on Wednesday morning.

At his best Bennell, 27, was one of the most scintillating and damaging outside midfielders in the game, but he has played only two matches in the past three years.

He was widely written off across the AFL industry but Melbourne offered Bennell a lifeline over summer, confident new high performance boss Darren Burgess can help him return to the field.

While the club had initially thought he would not play until the second half of the season, he has impressed on the track in recent weeks.

The Dees also confirmed No.3 draft pick Luke Jackson and young defender Trent Rivers will make their debut against the Blues.

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Harley Bennell has a playful push and shove with Corey Wagner at training. Picture: AAP

Goodwin said earlier this week Bennell has ticked every box since signing with the Dees to be squarely in the frame to make a “fairytale” comeback after more than 1000 days in the AFL wilderness.

Ex-Gold Coast Suns livewire Bennell spent four seasons on Fremantle’s list for two games – the last in Round 23, 2017. After being let go by the Dockers he signed as a rookie with Melbourne in February under the AFL’s supplemental selection period rules.

But a clean bill of health from the lingering and potentially career-ending soft-tissue setbacks has resuscitated the West Australian’s footy dreams.

“It’s very tempting,” Goodwin said.

“He’s going to be around the mark, he’s very close.”

“I want to (name him),” Goodwin said.

“But we'll certainly take a cautious approach, we said all along we want to set him up for the whole season. It's going to be an interesting discussion (with Burgess).”

Harley Bennell was a star for the Gold Coast Suns.

Bennell has starred in both of Melbourne’s match simulation sessions, injecting elite speed, smarts and skill in the Demons midfield and forward line.

Goodwin reiterated Melbourne has not gone lightly on the comeback star, determined to “really test him out” under AFL conditions.

“We do have to temper our expectation,” Goodwin said.

“He hasn't played a lot of footy in the last four years and it may take some time to adjust.”

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Bennell has put in a power of work since joining the Demons to get his body right and doubled down in isolation to make the most of the COVID-19 shutdown.

“He's lingering around my office a fair bit the last three weeks,” Goodwin said.

“He's got incredible confidence in the game … and he knows he's done the work in the period away.

“He'll have some reservations about his body, no question, that's normal but I think the work he's done puts him in a position of confidence heading in.”

Simon Goodwin wants to name Harley Bennell. Picture: AAP

Goodwin has almost a full complement of players to choose from, with up eight Demons right on the fringes of Round 2 selection.

Jake Lever will train on Wednesday and definitely play Saturday after sitting out of the final intraclub with “general soreness”.

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Former captain Nathan Jones, Christian Salem, Joel Smith and Mitch Hannan will also be considered after strong showings in recent weeks.

Melbourne and Carlton have agreed on a curtain-raiser on Saturday for the non-selected players.

“While squads are healthy and available I'm sure most clubs will look to play (match simulation) games,” Goodwin said.

“It might get to a point (player availability due to injury) where that will become a training session but certainly (now) we're going to be looking to play as many games as we can.”

Originally published as Melbourne will name Harley Bennell for fairytale return against Carlton