Bennell wants to write his own success story

Lying on the couch watching Great Southern AFL products Mitch and Jeremy McGovern and Marley Williams play on the big stage forced Michael Bennell on to the doorstep of Perth Football Club.

Bennell grew up playing his football with Albany, kicking 11 goals in the Sharks’ only ever league victory in Great Southern Football League history.

It was there he played against the likes of the McGovern brothers and Williams, who have gone on to carve out successful AFL careers.

An impromptu meeting with Perth Football Manager Dale Ballantyne was the first step to Bennell joining the club, and he is now helping lead the Demons’ charge towards a breakthrough WAFL finals appearance.

“I was lazing around every day on the couch — I (had) seen the McGovern boys and Marley Williams doing their thing and it made me realise I need to do something,” Bennell said.

“I’m grateful Dale listened to my story. He invited me down to a training session and then I did a pre-season.

“Coming from down south, it’s been a big change but I’m just loving footy at the moment.”

The 24-year-old began the WAFL season in the reserves, kicking 15 goals in seven games, playing league in round nine.

From there, he has not looked back, booting three goals on debut and going on to bag 16 goals in just five matches.

Bennell’s path to Lathlain Park for weekly training is very different from that of most, catching two trains from his home in Maddington with music blaring in his headphones the whole way.

But it’s something that is working. The dynamic forward is averaging 3.2 goals per game — the most of any player in the WAFL competition.

Despite harbouring ambitions to play at the highest level, Bennell said his focus was on helping Perth reach the finals.

“I’m very happy — the hard pre-season I did is really working for me but I’ve still got some boxes to tick,” he said.

“I want to have a real impact in the next few weeks, put us in winnable position in games and help us make the finals.

“I have always dreamt of playing at the elite level. My best is still ahead of me but I’ve got to keep putting in the hard yards.”

Bennell is doing labouring and maintenance work for Indigenous Economic Solutions and says his life has never been better.

Originally published in the Albany Ad by Cameron Newbold.

Image Credit: The Sunday Times, Daniel Wilkins.