Geelong has confirmed they are the latest club to express interest in resurrecting the career of former Suns and Dockers onballer Harley Bennell, with the flashy midfielder hoping to return to AFL level.
The Cats revealed they had met with Bennell to gauge the 27-year-old's recovery from a calf problem.
Following off-field issues with Gold Coast, Bennell moved to Fremantle where he was restricted to just two games over three seasons in purple after a series of injuries.
Bennell has met with several Victorian clubs as well as Sydney, with clubs exploring the possibility to have him train with them for next season, as Bennell looks to have overcome his calf injury following surgery in July.
Clubs would be able to add Bennell via the rookie draft in November or through the pre-season supplementary list if he is to join a club's training program in the off-season, where he will be looking to build back his fitness.
Players who feature within a side's training program as a rookie list prospect are able to play in the JLT Community series following new rules introduced for the 2020 season.
Bennell has indicated that he has matured since moving away from the AFL and becoming a father, hoping people are able to focus on who he is now, rather than on his past.
Richmond notably drafted Marlion Pickett in the mid-season rookie draft last year, with Pickett going on to collect Norm Smith medal votes in what was a staggering debut in the Grand Final, with clubs hoping Bennell may be able to replicate similar value to their sides.
The Cats will be hopeful to boost their running midfield stocks, with a large void being left by Tim Kelly, with the Cats also facing a dilemma in midfield without Mitch Duncan and Jordan Clark in September.
Geelong will look to prioritise new inclusions through the national draft, as the club holds picks 14, 17, 24, 36 and 93 after trading for Jack Steven and Josh Jenkins.
