Harley Bennell’s AFL career all but over after COVID-19 breach

One of the great comeback stories of the season could be over with Harley Bennell’s COVID-19 breach all but certain to end his Melbourne career.

Harley Bennell celebrates a goal against his former side, Gold Coast, in Round 6. Picture: AFL Photos/Getty Images

Harley Bennell’s football career at Melbourne is almost certainly over as the Demons continue to make attempts to support the midfielder.

Bennell early on Monday had refused to return from Gold Coast to Maroochydore where his partner Amy and his one-year-old daughter Carter were along with his Melbourne teammates.

The No. 2 draft pick left the club’s hub on Saturday – breaking the league’s COVID -19 protocols – after a long session drinking with others until the early hours of Saturday morning.

The club had engaged staff to be with Bennell on Saturday but contact between the fringe midfielder and key officials has been on and off since then.

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Bennell was told on Sunday unless he quickly returned to Maroochydore his family could try to fly back home to Western Australia under a special exemption without him.

Bennell’s partner Amy last month announced she was pregnant with their second child.

The Herald Sun understands Bennell’s father, John, has also recently been diagnosed with a serious health issue over the past week which may have impacted the midfielder’s decision-making.

Harley Bennell’s AFL career hangs in the balance after his COVID-19 breach. Picture: AFL Photos/Getty Images

The Demons are concerned by Bennell’s erratic and unpredictable behaviour since Saturday morning when he told friends he had left the club’s hub to swap a vehicle for a post-season holiday.

Bennell ran out of petrol after leaving the hub and was assisted by police to help him fill up his car. He completed a breath test but was not over the limit.

While the Demons were keen to keep Bennell at the club for next season, his behaviour over the past three days has effectively torched any chances of a contract extension.

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His immediate welfare has become the clear priority and a concern for the football industry.

Former Gold Coast Suns’ teammate Jarrod Harbrow raised the alarm over Bennell’s hub departure when he received a visit from the 27-year-old on Saturday.

Harbrow turned Bennell away and then contacted the Suns who notified the Demons.

Bennell was on Sunday suspended for four matches and the club fined $50,000 for the COVID-19 breach.

He has been asked to depart Queensland but it is unclear whether Bennell wants to return to Melbourne or Perth with his family.

Captain Max Gawn said it was a disappointing turn of events.

Bennell pictured at training earlier this year. Picture: Getty Images

“Harley unfortunately stuffed up and broke COVID restrictions,” Gawn said on Nova 100.

“I’m not actually sure what happened so I was down in Gold Coast playing footy, but it’s disappointing from our point of view.

“He was two days away from potentially ending the restriction period.

“That will play out, I’m not sure exactly what happened, it’s disappointing for Harley and disappointing for us.”

Melbourne great Garry Lyon said Bennell would “only have himself to blame” if the Demons sacked the midfielder for his COVID breach. He played five games for the Dees this season, helping turn his injury-plagued career around.

Harley Bennell has just finished his first year with Melbourne. Picture: Getty Images

The Herald Sun revealed on Sunday the Demons had alerted the AFL’s integrity team to the issue after he broke AFL protocols while the Demons were beating Essendon.

Bennell is out of contract and Lyon said the midfielder’s actions “expose him to the reality” of being cut loose.

“He’s made life very hard and difficult for himself,” Lyon said on SEN.

“He’d got himself back into the AFL world, he’d had a taste of footy.

“You would have thought he would have been really well placed for next year with a big pre-season under his belt.”

Lyon said Bennell would have a lot of work to do to win back the trust of his club if he is offered a new deal.

“Any game for him this year was going to be a fantastic result and he played three or four,” he said.

“And then go back, get through the summer without having another incident, get your body right and hopefully be a part of the push to play finals footy next year.”

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Originally published as Harley Bennell’s AFL career all but over after COVID-19 breach