A change in focus in becoming a more damaging inside player during the pre-season will see Harley Bennell looming large for 2015, assistant coach Matthew Primus believes.
On his day, the Gold Coast playmaker is one of the most exciting and talented players in the AFL, with his ability to evade traffic and be unpredictable by foot and hand making him a difficult player to corral.
Bennell averaged 21 disposals in his 15 games played, including a career-defining performance against Geelong in round 14 where he booted an equal club best six-goals to accompany his 27 touches.
He also reached 20 disposals on at least ten occasions.
And while his numbers have continued to impress in each of his four seasons in the AFL, Primus is confident his midfield charger can take his game to another level next season, and has hinted increased opportunities around the stoppage areas could await the line-breaking speedster.
“His outside work is fantastic and his ability to finish at goals his incredibly good, but his ability to win his own ball is when we’re having a good run as a team,” Primus said.
“Hopefully a good pre-season is ahead of him, and we can get 22 games out of him.
“But there is certainly room for improvement around the contested ball.”
Harley Bennell and Gary Ablett after the round 14 win over Geelong at Metricon Stadium.
The stats that matter
Senior matches: 15
Goals: 23
Disposals: 321 (21.4)
Marks: 67 (4)
Clearances: 41 (2.7)
Tackles: 29 (1.9)
Contested Possessions: 112 (7.5)
Inside-50s: 44 (2.9)
What they said...
"Harley is an extremely important player for us and we are really pleased to be in a position to confirm he has agreed to terms for a further three seasons."
"We believe Harley has the ability to be one of the competition's elite players and we take great confidence out of his commitment and belief in the club's future direction." – Scott Clayton, GC SUNS List & Strategy Manager
Memorable moment
A spectacular final-term highlight against Port Adelaide saw Bennell rewarded with a well deserved Goal of the Year nomination.
With 4:28 left on the clock, and the side trailing by nine points, Gold Coast needed something special from a stoppage 25 metres out from goal.
The chain began with David Swallow as the third man up in the ruck contest, the 2014 Club Champion belting the ball forward and towards the boundary line.
Bennell charged forward, ahead of Power players Kane Cornes and Tom Jonas, and gathered the ball near the boundary.
Then, from the near-impossible angle, Bennell slammed the ball onto his left boot as the Sherrin curled perfectly over the goal line between the big sticks.
While Gold Coast ultimately fell short of a wonderful victory over the Power, Bennell’s boundary line brilliance will remembered as one of the plays of the game.
