Melbourne recruit Harley Bennell was a shock omission for Sunday’s clash against Geelong at the MCG.
Bennell was named to play in last Sunday’s postponed game against Essendon following an encouraging return to football against Carlton in Round 2 – his first game since 2017.
But coach Simon Goodwin is erring on the side of caution with the injury-prone midfielder.
“There’s a lot of expectation on Harley to be in the team every week, that certainly won’t be the case,” Goodwin told reporters during the week.
“He’s a player we see as a long-term player who we want to make sure can sustain the rigours of an AFL season.”
Terry Wallace admits he was surprised to see Bennell left out after being picked to face the Bombers in Round 3.
“Harley Bennell surprises me,” Wallace told SEN’s The Match Committee.
“Why would you pick him last week and then omit him this week when you didn’t play a game?
“If you’re looking at not wanting to run him week in, week out I can understand that process. But they were prepared to play him last weekend and all of a sudden now a week later they’re not prepared to play him.
“Simon Goodwin’s explanation doesn’t clear up anything for me."