Like David Swallow who had been selected at number 1 in the AFL draft, Harley Bennell was well aware that his AFL journey would begin on the Gold Coast prior to his name being read out at the 2010 AFL Draft on the Gold Coast.

"I found out I was going to the Gold Coast SUNS at the 2010 Draft Combine that was held in Canberra."

“I had a meeting with the Gold Coast SUNS with Scotty Clayton and Bluey and they basically told me that they were going to pick me up in one of the first three picks."

With Swallow taken care of, Clayton bagged Bennell as soon as possible, the talented teen admitting to being star struck as he met the man who would be his Captain the following year Gary Ablett.

"Everyone was just star struck when they shook Gary’s hand and I met Gary on that night actually and yeah I was pretty star struck."

Despite the attention of waiting media, Bennell made sure those who mattered most heard the news first.

"There was 15 or 16 other Clubs all standing there and having other meetings, I just walked off with a big smile and I think I went back into my room and rang my mum and she was crying on the phone."

It wasn’t all plain sailing for Bennell during his first season of AFL, the rigour of life as a professional athlete took it’s toll and Harley by his own admission pushed boundaries and broke team rules on a number of occasions.

"The first 12 months when my AFL career started was pretty tough and Karmichael Hunt and Jarrod Brennan kind of took me under their wings and I kind of just stuck at it and trained hard."

While his talent had never been questioned, Bennell’s 2012 season saw his stocks rise dramatically as he played a crucial minutes for the GC SUNS, leading the way for his team mates and emerging as one of the most exciting and dynamic players in the competition.