Harley Bennell.

[comrade]

What would you be agreeable to part with to land him?

If we could land him with anything outside this year's first pick, I'd be rapt.

For example, Talia + next year's first (which with some improvement should be 12+ on the draft board).

GC are in a tough position as they have effectively sacked him. No going back on that. So unless a bidding war erupts AND Bennell wants to go to one of the clubs in the bidding war, they are limited in what they can ask for.

That being said, I don't think he's the type of character our club are willing to pursue. In time we'll see if this style of character based recruiting pays off but I'd hate to miss out on 2 A grade talents (Carlisle & Bennell) because we weren't prepared to back in our system/culture to keep them in line.

[GVGjr]

That being said, I don't think he's the type of character our club are willing to pursue. In time we'll see if this style of character based recruiting pays off but I'd hate to miss out on 2 A grade talents (Carlisle & Bennell) because we weren't prepared to back in our system/culture to keep them in line.

It's an interesting point you raise, I could see an argument that our culture is capable of turning around players with a few distractions but I wouldn't expect any clubs culture has been set-up to take on other clubs problem children.
Clubs offer players a highly professional environment and opportunities to improve themselves on so many levels.
Should they have to take on people who aren't focused on maximising the opportunities they have in front of them?

We have seen first hand when team mates and coaches tried to keep the likes of Akermanis in line but many times you can't help people who either don't want it or think they are entitled to extra latitude.

Equally I'd hate to lose one of our current players who can't be bothered playing alongside someone who isn't as committed to the club as they were.

[Ghost Dog]

There have been a few players in the history of the game who have turned it around.
Johnson, Stokes, Betts, Lachie Hunter learning to set his alarm properly

The club could protect itself with some contractual thing.

When did our NDhead policy actually come into effect? Aker must have made it in before the deadline.
In hindsight, his relationship with Steven Price ( host of now defunct MTR Radio - featuring such luminary thinkers as Andrew Bolt, and Sam Newman ) should have set gigantic alarm bells clanging. Aker was convicted of homophobia in the court of public opinion, but Price was actually convicted in a court.

[ledge]

Aker was okay until we let him on radio so he could make up the income that he lost in his last contract, problem was he was bad mouthing his past and present employers.
If anyone did that to their employer in the media then they would be sacked, he actually did well to last as long as he did.

[bornadog]

Aker was okay until we let him on radio so he could make up the income that he lost in his last contract, problem was he was bad mouthing his past and present employers.
If anyone did that to their employer in the media then they would be sacked, he actually did well to last as long as he did.

Aker said some things that the AFL didn't want to know about, like rampant use of drugs by players, homophobia and various other things that we normally keep our mouth shut on even though we may think it.

[AndrewP6]

No way. Risk outweighs reward.

[Bulldog4life]

Aker said some things that the AFL didn't want to know about, like rampant use of drugs by players, homophobia and various other things that we normally keep our mouth shut on even though we may think it.

As well as talking out of school about what was said at one of our team meetings on The Footy Show. Rocket was livid. That was the final straw.

[Mantis]

No way. Risk outweighs reward.

Reward might be the missing ingredient for a premiership.

[NoseBleed]

Risk might be a total fracture in the playing group.

[Ghost Dog]

Risk might be a total fracture in the playing group.

Sponsors are a pretty sensitive lot as well. It would depend too on what sort of family he has.
You know Tom Liberatore is going to get good support, for example. But some kids from interstate without structures in place might struggle.
Speaking of sponsors, Mission Wraps are advertising here in China on TV.

[Ozza]

I'd love for us to take a risk on Bennell. I think there is an opportunity to get a gun player for way way under the odds here.

[Dancin' Douggy]

I'd love for us to take a risk on Bennell. I think there is an opportunity to get a gun player for way way under the odds here.

That's my thinking. And not just a 'random' gun player either. He's the exact type we need to complement our midfield.

[strebla]

I have been following the discussion on here and all have valid points could we not set up a meeting with the coach and the leadership group. That to me will give us the best indication of where he is at and how he fill fit the group.

[LostDoggy]

I'd love for us to take a risk on Bennell. I think there is an opportunity to get a gun player for way way under the odds here.

The "under the odds" part of the equation is the key. If 4 or 5 clubs decide he's worth the risk, market forces will result in his value increasing. This seems probable to me. If he ends up needing a first rounder and, say $450k per year, then I would like to see us bow out.

Aside from the value factor disappearing, it will reinforce to Bennell that he ultimately gets away with his indiscretions. For his sake, I hope he ends up on a lower salary next year, but can see the opposite eventuating.

[Ghost Dog]

The "under the odds" part of the equation is the key. If 4 or 5 clubs decide he's worth the risk, market forces will result in his value increasing. This seems probable to me. If he ends up needing a first rounder and, say $450k per year, then I would like to see us bow out.

Aside from the value factor disappearing, it will reinforce to Bennell that he ultimately gets away with his indiscretions. For his sake, I hope he ends up on a lower salary next year, but can see the opposite eventuating.

Heath Shaw was a bit of a party animal at the pies. Having retired, gave an interview where he credited the Swans with turning him around. Pretty servicable over the journey. If we want to be a top team, we have to be able to put guys on the right track.