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The Herald Sun has released explosive photos of Gold Coast Suns’ utility Harley Bennell with what appears to be illicit drugs.
The photographs, from March 2013, were taken at a Launceston hotel in Tasmania just nine days before the Suns were due to face St Kilda in their Round 1 clash.
The images show Bennell with five lines of white powder at the Hotel Grand Chancellor.
Gold Coast have released a statement on Thursday morning stating their initial concern is the well-being of the 22-year-old,
“Our priority overnight and throughout the morning is the genuine concern for Harley and his welfare”
“We can’t underestimate the toll the last 12 hours could, and has had, on his wellbeing. That will remain our absolute focus at this time.”
The photos come as the club remains embroiled in a drug scandal involving former midfielder Karmichael Hunt who pleaded guilty to drug charges in March after an investigation by the Queensland Crime and Corruption Commission.
Hunt was Bennell’s former room-mate and its been reported that the code-hopper implicated several Suns players in illicit drug use in a statement to the QCCC.
Former Essendon star forward Matthew Lloyd, who coached Bennell in his developing years, told 3AW he was optimistic the images would not end the bright star’s future.
“I’ve coached Harley in younger academies when he has come through the system,” Lloyd said.
“We’ve had to drop Harley Bennell back when he was 16, 17 for his behaviour and now he’s probably 21, 22 years of age and still he’s a good footballer. He’s got big concerns… if he didn’t have football I’d have real concerns about where Harley’s life would be.
“I don’t think the Gold Coast Suns will come out today and sack him… I think they will support him through it.”
However, former Sydney, Hawthorn and St Kilda ruckman Peter Everitt was less hopeful.
“So this goes to show there’s been a drug culture at the Gold Coast Suns. And look we can’t put all the players in it but we can definitely put one player in it and that’s Harley Bennell.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets sacked today.”
The AFL, meanwhile has been non-committal in the early stages of the scandal – AFL chief Gillon McLachlan stating in a press conference on Thursday that the photos “don’t change anything” and Bennell’s welfare was “the major concern”.
He also announced a a new illicit drugs policy to begin in the off-season and said he had “full confidence” in the Suns to properly resolve the issue.
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