SUPPORT for Mandurah AFL star Harley Bennell has been strong since damning photos of him appeared in nation-wide newspapers last week.
But nowhere has that support been greater than in his home town.
Since the release of pictures taken in 2013 purportedly showing Bennell with lines of speed, the outpouring of compassion for the quiet kid from Coodanup has been strong. And constant.
A Facebook page called We Support Harley 100% has garnered more than 1000 members since going live on Saturday evening.
Set up to “show our support for Harley, as well as our ongoing appreciation for his value to the Suns as a player”, the page has drawn comments from friends, family and fans.
“People make mistakes – God knows I’ve made many,” one supporter posted.
“It’s how we come out the other side and learn from them that makes us who we are.”
There are references to Bennell’s early days at the Gold Coast Suns which are described as fraught for the young gun who suffered from homesickness.
Taken under the wing of former Suns’ player Karmichael Hunt, things appeared to be looking up for the utility who seemed destined for greatness since being recruited from Peel Thunder in 2010.
But a litany of off-field troubles plagued Bennell, and controversy has never been far from the Suns’ 2012 second-placed fairest and best behind Gary Ablett Jr.
It’s a scenario played out time and again. And here in the West we’ve seen plenty of players fall from grace following a heady rise to on-field fame.
Ben Cousins, Daniel Kerr, Chris Mainwaring, Chad Fletcher.
The column inches filled with the antics of such players seem never ending.
At what point do we turn our attention to the clubs and ask some serious questions about duty of care to young players desperately in need in guidance and a strong mentor?
We can no longer file certain incidents under the ‘boys will be boys’ moniker.
And if we are prepared to fete our favourite players and build them up to be heroes, we need to be prepared to catch them when they stumble.
One who has never buckled in her support for Bennell is his mother.
Never prouder of her son than in the past few days, Kayleen Bennell has been outspoken in her commitment to her child.
“You have given me so many reasons to be proud of the man you have become,” she wrote on Facebook.
“But the proudest moment for me is telling others that you are my son.”
It is this fierce loyalty which is most likely to see Bennell through the dark days ahead.
He has an army of supporters behind him. An army he may never have needed to call on had his club done better by him in the early days of his career.
It is true – we all make mistakes. And we look forward to Bennell coming out of this stronger than ever.
Now is his chance to be truly inspirational.
Now is his chance to kick some goals.