AS HARLEY Bennell prepares for his return to the AFL on Sunday against Richmond, former coach Rodney Eade has thrown his support behind the wayward Dockers star, saying he hopes Bennell becomes "the player he should be".

Eade coached Bennell at Gold Coast in 2015 before the Suns sacked the-then 22-year-old for a string of off-field misdemeanours.

Bennell played 81 games for Gold Coast, and Eade said he enjoyed coaching the highly-skilled midfielder, describing him as a "rare talent".

Since leaving the Suns and heading west almost two years ago, Bennell has been dogged by ongoing calf problems, preventing him from playing a single game for Fremantle.

Speaking to AFL.com.au a little over a week after his own sacking, Eade said he hoped Bennell had straightened up off-field and could make a fist of his career.

"I hope he does well," Eade said.

"I hope his calf is not an issue, and that generally he knows it's going to take hard work to be a successful AFL player.

"He's just got to get a run, and hopefully next year he can become the player he should be."

Bennell showed starring qualities in his five seasons at the Suns, finishing second behind Gary Ablett in the 2012 best and fairest, and unleashing a number of incredible performances.

In 2014 he kicked six goals amongst 27 disposals to lead the Suns to a memorable win over Geelong, while two years earlier his 37 touches and three goals also caused an upset over Fremantle.

Eade said the former number two draft pick was feted as a youngster, which may not have been the best thing for him.

"He's very talented, has athletic ability, ball-handling skills, kicking, but he just thought he could do what he liked and there'd be no repercussions as far as moving him on.

"In the end we had to.

"I think he was shocked about that.

"I think it's better for both parties, better for him."

Eade said he had "no doubt" Bennell could be a star if his body held up.

In his three years at Metricon Stadium, Bennell wasn't the only highly-talented youngster that departed.

Gold Coast also lost Charlie Dixon, Jaeger O'Meara, Dion Prestia and Zac Smith for a number of reasons, but Eade said he had no regrets.

"All four you'd love to have here if their bodies were right and their attitudes were right," he said.

And the biggest name on his list – Ablett?

Eade seemed surprised by the media and public's fascination in the dual Brownlow medallist, but said he was heavily invested in the Suns.

"The frustrating thing for me was that I didn't have him enough on the paddock," Eade said.

"He only played half the games and some of those were under duress.

"We saw the best of him but only in two or three-week spurts. That was disappointing, but it's nobody's fault."

Eade said he had no idea whether Ablett would ask to be traded at season's end, and whether Gold Coast would play hard-ball if he did.

"I never asked him and I don't know, I honestly don't know," he said.

"The bottom line is he's under contract, so at the end of the day the club hold the whip hand and I imagine they'll do what's best for them."