Harley Bennell becomes a Docker

The 22-year-old Pinjarra product as well as pick 22 was traded to the Dockers in exchange for pick 16 and 35 in the NAB AFL Draft.

If Bennell puts his off field issues behind him it will be a steal for the Dockers.

Bennell, who has signed a three-year deal with Fremantle, said he was excited to be returning home to Western Australia.

“I want to thank the Gold Coast for drafting me and the support they have offered me during my time at the club,” Bennell said on the Dockers website.

“My main focus now is to knuckle down and have a solid pre-season over the coming months.”

Bennell was drafted at pick two in the 2010 draft and has gone on the play 81 games kicking 91 goals in the process.

In 2014 he equalled the Sun’s record for most goals in a game when he kicked six goals from 27 disposals in the side’s narrow victory against Geelong.

What had other teams wary of drafting the midfielder, including the West Coast Eagles who ruled out selecting Bennell once it was clear he wanted to return to Western Australia, is a host off field problems.

Earlier this year photographs emerged appearing to show Bennell with illicit drugs.

The photos, reported to be taken in a Tasmanian hotel room in 2013, showed Bennell in front of five lines of a white powder, allegedly speed.

However, the boiling point for the Gold Coast Suns that prompted them to seek a trade for Bennell was an incident with a bouncer outside a Surfers Paradise club only weeks after the season came to a close.

It was only a minor offence but the cumulative off field issues were too much.

The Dockers have a history of being able to turn players’ careers around something they will hope they can do with Bennell.

In 2012 Dockers forward Michael Walters was sent back to train and play for Swan Districts after poor fitness levels and being overweight.

He played well for Swans and was welcomed back to the Dockers where he has since starred.

THE TRADE

Dockers

OUT

Pick 16 and 35

IN

Harley Bennell

Pick 22