The Gold Coast SUNS have confirmed that midfielder Harley Bennell won’t play against North Melbourne at Metricon Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
 
In light of Thursday’s front-page newspaper columns in both Melbourne’s Herald Sun and Queensland’s Courier Mail, the club has elected to preclude Bennell from playing this weekend.
 
Gold Coast CEO, Andrew Travis, and coach, Rodney Eade, addressed reporters at Metricon Stadium on Thursday, with the pair expressing the club’s priority concern at the minute was on Bennell’s welfare during this time.
 
“He won’t play this weekend,” Eade said.
 
“With it happening so close to the game, we’re obviously worried about the headspace that Harley’s in and obviously worried about his welfare.
 
“Also from a club point of view and from a players point of view, we think that it’s appropriate that he doesn’t play this weekend.”