2011 Countdown: Harley Bennell

[Junktimer]

Harley Bennell

Links:
http://www.contestedfooty.com/2010/06/harley-bennell-2010-afl-draft-prospect/
http://wafl.pro-stats.com.au/colts/web/player_profile?pid=9096
http://www.footydraft.com/harley-bennell/

Summary:

DOB: 02/10/1992, Height: 180cm, Weight: 70kg
Club: Peel Thunder (WA)
Style: Daniel Wells

Harley Bennell is a very exciting prospect who has a ton of x-factor, flair and excitement and has the potential to be an elite winger/HFF/HBF’er. Bennell has had a super year playing in the WAFL for Peel Thunder and was the best player in the U18 champs winning the Larke Medal, especially in the first game against SA when he was best on ground IMO with 6 goals and about 20 disposals. He is a very damaging player who has elite disposal and can run and break the lines, he regularly is involved in 100m plays. He also kicks a lot of goals, and runs forward although he needs to be careful as he is a bit of a front runner. He plays mainly as an outside player, who runs the lines, but has a bit of an inside game yet is skinny and gets pushed around a bit. He has a fair bit of development left but needs a strong coach IMO to stop him being lazy.

Athletically Bennell is very gifted he is super fast and very agile, he can break the lines and regularly uses his running ability in games and usually takes a couple of bounces and will really hurt the opposition. He is also very slippery and hard to catch as he is so agile and can step round people so easily. He also has an excellent vertical leap and is a strong mark over his head for a player his size he really reads the ball well in flight, and he can stand on people’s heads and take a speccy. Endurance wise he appears to be solid, but he needs to improve this in my opinion as he only works one way and often he does not work hard enough. This is my biggest concern with him as he does not work hard enough both ways, he can be lazy and prone to allowing his opponent to really run off him, and he will struggle to break tags. He needs a boot up his arse or risk becoming a Daniel Wells type which is possible, so picking up him is not without risk.

His skills are very good and he is very creative, his general preferred option of disposal is to kick it. His disposal is very good, elite even, he is a powerful kick and has great touch and feel, he can kick the impossible goal. He hits most targets and is very clever and creative with how he uses the ball, and is very damaging with his disposal especially when mixed with his run and carry. His hands are also very good and he is one touch and clean with picking the ball up and giving it off. All in all he is a super prospect and one that is very damaging and worthy of a top 3 pick although there is a bit of a drop off from the top 2 IMO, but still a worthy top 3 and clear of the other prospects.

The Crystal Ball:

Based on price of last year's draftees

Price: $169,200

Based on m0nty's fanplanner

Price: $197,500

Position: MID

Decision:

I think Harley Bennell can be taken with relative confidence in 2011.  He has a lot of flair, and has been said to be more creative than Swallow.  Consistency may be an issue, but I think he will still be an absolute bargain.
I personally will be selecting him.
Will you select Bennell in 2011?

[ossie85]

I won't be selecting both Swallow and Bennell, so a preseason will be watched

[Junktimer]

I won't be selecting both Swallow and Bennell, so a preseason will be watched

why?

[ossie85]

More than 1 midfielder from the same team will cause huge difficulties when that team has a bye

[benjy251090]

all rookies will be looked at by me

[CrowsFan]

I'm with ossie on this one. trying to avoid picking more than one player from the same team on the same line

[Maca24]

Gold coast have the bye round 1 though  ::)
so you wont lose league games. ill strongly consider bennell.
pre season will be watched closely

[ossie85]

This is true. Will depend on whether Gold Coast also have a bye in finals

[Maca24]

yep thats right but i will likely offland my GC rookies, well most of them

[DazBurg]

i'll watch his preseason then decide
not too sure atm wanna see more of him

[BratPack]

More likely to come in than Swallow for me. But I'll watch the preseason

[Justin Bieber]

I'll be locking him in as well along with Swallow. Both from the same team, but both are guns.

Risky but I'll have MPP cover for the backs and forwards :D.

[Boomz]

I doubt it  with Swallow & other GC mids ahead of him.

[Wilkopolis]

For those worried about muti picks from the same team.  GC has the bye in round 1 (so bench coverage isn't needed) and as long as no more than one of them is a keeper then by the time the second bye rolls around these kids would have been upgraded / cashed out.

Go nuts for GC I say

[benjy251090]

depends when there second bye is though