It’s difficult to comprehend the adverse circumstances Harley Bennell faced on Saturday. It has been an extremely testing time for the young midfielder in recent weeks, but he couldn’t have responded much better at Adelaide Oval against Adelaide.
The football world has fervently discussed the prodigious talent for the last three weeks. On Saturday, Bennell let his football do the talking. He collected a game-high 39 possessions, including 16 contested possessions, nine inside 50s and five clearances, as well as registering 672 metres of gained territory – the third most by any player for round 17.
Not one to be seduced by Champion Data’s algorithm, Rodney Eade was pleased with how Bennell responded under the microscope and against a strong Adelaide midfield. Although he believes the West Australian has areas of his game he must improve on.
“I think for the couple of weeks that he’s had, to be able to come back and win as much ball as he did and work as hard as he did was really pleasing,” Eade told the media following the SUNS' loss on Saturday afternoon.
“He got a lot of the ball. There’s still parts of his game that he’s got to improve and we need to coach that.
“He’s a really good kick and he tried to drill the ball like [Nick] Malceski's did in the second quarter and guys who are good kicks tried to do the Hail Mary which actually that cost us. There are some other parts of his game that he’s got to work on.”
During a tumultuous time in his life, Eade says Bennell showed a lot of contrition for his previous actions. The veteran coach is confident his prized possession knows what he has to do moving forward. Now it is about the outcome moving forward, rather than punishing him further.
“I think the main thing with any sanction or people doing what they’re doing. It’s even in law, it’s more about the rehabilitation isn’t it? It’s more about the outcome. If you get repeat offenders the sanction is the wrong one,” Eade said.
“I think he showed a lot of contrition. He knows where he’s at; he knows what he’s got to do. He knows how hard he’s got to work. I think that parts been good.”
Bennell response pleases Eade
In extremely adverse circumstances, Harley Bennell couldn't have responded much better than he did at Adelaide Oval.
