HARLEY Bennell might now realise "he’s not bulletproof" following Gold Coast’s announcement it would trade him after yet another disciplinary breach, coach Rodney Eade says.
Eade said he felt let down by Bennell, who was charged with disorderly behaviour after allegedly arguing with a security guard outside a Surfers Paradise nightclub just 24 hours after the Suns' final game of the season.
On Monday afternoon, the Suns confirmed Bennell would be put up for trade, with the club’s leadership group 'fully supportive' of the decision.
Eade said he would continue to support Bennell but thought the news would have come as a shock to the 22-year-old.
"He's only a young man and obviously he's made some poor choices, but (I'm) certainly disappointed for him that it's come to this but I think as a club, we've done everything," Eade told Fox Footy on Monday night.
"As a person, we rate him highly but he just made too many bad choices, but the support will still be there for him.
"He probably didn't think it'd ever come to this and I think it's a big wake-up call … he probably realises that he's not bulletproof."
The Suns added they were committed to helping Bennell.
"It’s extremely disappointing. All the players know the expectations and as a football club, we need to earn back respect," captain Gary Ablett said.
Bennell has had a troubled season, being suspended for breaking the club's alcohol policy and then having pictures splashed across national newspapers of him in a hotel room with illicit drugs in 2013.
Bennell 'sorry' for drugs furore
Chief executive Andrew Travis said it was a unanimous decision following meetings with club administration, coaches, the leadership group and Bennell's management.
"Despite the incident this morning being relatively minor, it’s the view of the club, our coaches and player leadership group that Harley is unable to make long-term change required to remain with the Gold Coast Suns," Travis said.
"When Harley returned to football we outlined a program and a series of actions that he needed to follow to have a future at the Suns.
"We also made clear to Harley and our entire playing group the expectations we had of them as players and representatives of this club.
"No matter what we say, we will be judged on our actions, not on our words and it is important to say today that the player leadership group has fully supported the actions of the club in regard to this matter.”
Gold Coast will now trade out the talented 22-year-old despite having two years left to run on his contract.
Sunday night's incident continues a litany of off-field misdemeanours by the West Australian.
During the pre-season he did four weeks of community service after breaking alcohol rules.
He was then suspended for one match – along with three teammates – for a repeat offence following a round-five victory over the Brisbane Lions.
In July, Bennell was all over News Corp front pages for a 2013 incident where he was pictured snorting illegal substances in a Tasmanian hotel room.
He missed three matches, copped a $5000 fine and was forced to undergo an off-field welfare program.
At the time he told AFL.com.au he feared being sacked and was desperate to repay the club's faith.
Yet just six weeks after that interview, he has transgressed again.
"It was just a one-off thing. It's a decision, I was under the influence of alcohol, that I made, that I really regret," Bennell said at the time.
"I still have two years left on my contract. I don't want to leave the football club. I love this football club and I want to stay here.
"I've just got to work hard from here on in, clean up some of the decisions I make away from the football club and work hard on the track.
"It's being a professional away from the footy club, not just at the footy club.
"I've got to know that I'm a 24-hour professional Gold Coast Suns player.
"Knowing when you can have a beer and when you can go out, and the decisions you're about to make, will it affect the footy club and yourself.
"My career is at the crossroads. I don't want this to ever happen again."
Yet it appears to have happened again.
In July, Suns coach Rodney Eade said he was keen to keep Bennell and out-of-contract forward Charlie Dixon, who on Sunday announced he wanted to be traded to Port Adelaide.
Bennell was taken with the No.2 pick in the 2010 NAB AFL Draft, and with boundless talent has played 81 games in five seasons, kicked 92 goals and finished second in the club's best and fairest in 2012.
A number of clubs have been linked to him, including Hawthorn, Essendon, Melbourne and St Kilda.
