By Michael Whiting
Homesick Gold Coast SUNS teenager Harley Bennell has emphatically confirmed his desire to stay at GC SUNS, saying he hoped to be a 10-year player for the club.
Bennell will play his first senior match in five weeks against the Sydney Swans on Saturday night after being dropped to the reserves following Gold Coast SUNS round 11 loss to West Coast at Patersons Stadium.
Following the match, the 18-year-old - drafted at No.2 in the NAB AFL draft by the GC SUNS last year - stayed an extra two days in Perth than the club had permitted.
The GC SUNS dropped Bennell for the following round against North Melbourne and his passage back to the seniors was confirmed this week with a seal of approval from Gold Coast SUNS leadership group.
The quietly spoken Bennell conceded what he did was wrong, and said he had done everything in the past month to win his teammates over.
"I copped it on the chin. I'm really happy just to get back. I've done everything I could," Benell said after training on Friday.
"I had to train hard and buy into the program. It's my dream to play AFL football and I'd love to stay at the club for 10 years."
Bennell is from a close-knit family with four brothers and four sisters and said the move east was tough to start with.
He lived with fellow Western Australians David Swallow and Brandon Matera - who were both with the GC SUNS in the VFL last year - to begin with and has now moved in with Karmichael Hunt and Hunt's girlfriend Emma Harding.
"K has played a big role, he took me under his wing and his partner Emma as well, and I'm really looking forward to the next couple of months with them," Bennell said.
"I've been there a week now and I just feel at home every time I walk through the door.
"Emma's got her younger brother staying there, and he's a year older than me, so he's good to chat to, someone outside the club. Being around family is good."
Bennell said as time had gone on, he felt more comfortable on the Gold Coast.
His girlfriend Julia will make the journey from WA to watch the Swans match but Bennell said neither her or any of his family had any plans to make a permanent move east.
Assistant coach Shane O'Bree said Bennell had done everything asked of him in the past month.
"He's been fantastic," O'Bree said.
"The last month he has stuck to the program and done everything every other AFL player has to do and his form in the reserves has been really good.
"Harley copped it on the chin and has been working away at everything he has to do. The playing group has helped him out too.
"He should be full of confidence and hopefully he's rewarded with a good game this week."
