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NEWLY announced Essendon coach John Worsfold says the club will consider recruiting Harley Bennell.
The departing Gold Coast midfielder has been placed on the trade table following a series of off-field disciplinary breaches over his 81-game career.
Worsfold told NAB AFL Trade Radio that Bennell was on the club's radar, on the same day the premiership coach was unveiled as James Hird's successor.
"(There's) plenty of interest in his talent and we need to do some research into his desire to commit to the standards that will be expected at the Essendon Football Club," Worsfold said on Monday.
"I think we need to explore it because his talent warrants that, but it is the package that comes and we need to really find out where his mind's at.
"To what level we explore it will depend on some of the answers we get to these questions."
Richmond officially ruled itself out of pursuing Bennell on Sunday despite meeting with the Suns midfielder mid last week.
Bennell, who was recruited by the Suns with pick No.2 in the 2010 NAB AFL Draft, hails from the Western Australian town of Mandurah.
The 23-year-old has been linked to Perth-based club Fremantle, with coach Ross Lyon last week not ruling out recruiting the contracted onballer.
Meanwhile, Worsfold said the Bombers were interested in signing Brisbane Lions ruckman Matthew Leuenberger.
The 27-year-old is a restricted free agent and is weighing up whether to join the Bombers or the Sydney Swans in this month's trade period.
"We see him as a really exciting addition to the Essendon footy club," Worsfold said.
"We'll certainly be showing him how keen we are and how much value he'll add to our club going forward.
"I look forward to having a chat to him. He's a young man, he's a very, very good footballer and he'll fit in wonderfully."
Earlier on Monday, Leuenberger's manager, Paul Connors, said his client was deciding on playing at the Bombers or the Swans, with the race "too close to call".
Worsfold said he would sit down with wantaway key position player Jake Carlisle now that he had officially assumed the Bombers' senior coaching position.
"I haven't given up hope (of trying to keep Carlisle)," he said.
"I will have a chat to him and just see where he's at and if I get the feel that he's very clear on what he wants, and that is to move on, (then) I'll be supportive of that.
"You don't really want to force a player to stay if their mind's made up."
