Jamie Bennell

DOB

7/6/1990

Height

179cm

Weight

76kg

Junior club

Swan Districts/Carey Park JFC

Arrived

Pick 26 in the 2013 rookie draft

Number

44

Debut

Round 1 2014 vs Western Bulldogs
(214th Eagles player)

Games

30

Goals

3

B&F Top 10

0

Best Finish

N/A

Last app.

Round 2 2016 vs Hawthorn

Departed

Delisted at the end of the 2016 season

Other clubs

Swan Districts (WAFL) 2008, 2013, 2017
Melbourne (AFL) 2009-2012
East Perth (WAFL) 2014-2016
Norwood (Eastern FL) 2018

Originally from Carey Park in Bunbury, the flashy Jamie Bennell spent four years at Melbourne before being delisted and then picked up by West Coast as a rookie, managing 30 games as an Eagle.

Melbourne career[]

After playing colts for Swan Districts, Bennell was drafted by Melbourne with pick 35 (one pick before West Coast took Ashley Smith). He played 57 games for the Dees, used alternately as a rebounding halfback or a clever forward pocket. He was delisted by Melbourne in 2012 after doing his ACL, and picked up by West Coast in the rookie draft.

West Coast career[]

After returning from his knee injury midway through 2013 via Swan Districts' reserves, Bennell showed strong form in the backline in Swans' seniors. Late in the season he was elevated off the rookie list in place of the injured Mark Nicoski, but did not get a debut. Nevertheless he was promoted to the senior list for 2014.

Following a strong pre-season campaign, Bennell made his debut in round 1 and was eye-catching early in the season with his run and dash from defence. Midway through the season, however, he was surprisingly dropped back to the WAFL amid speculation he was asked to work on his defensive responsibilities. Bennell returned to the senior side after a few weeks but had a reduced impact.

He found himself out of favour in 2015, often on the cusp of selection but behind players like Sam Butler, Xavier Ellis and rookie Jackson Nelson in the queue for small defender spots. Bennell played just nine senior games and wasn't in the squad for the finals.

Bennell was tried as a forward during the 2016 pre-season and played the first two home and away games in that role, but after being dropped his form fell away dramatically, to the point that he spent an extended period in East Perth's reserves team. He was delisted at the end of the year after four years and 30 games with West Coast.

Post-AFL career[]

Bennell returned to Swan Districts after being delisted, as well as taking a full-time mentoring role with the David Wirrpanda Foundation. After a season with the Swans he returned to Victoria to line up for Norwood in the suburban Eastern Football League.^[1]

Stats[]

AFL	Gm	G	B	K	M	H	D	T	Cl	WAFL	Gm	G	B	K	M	H	D	T
2013	0									SD	12	4	0	118	59	81	199	13
2014	19	1	2	143	75	114	257	27	10	EP	3	1	1	21	10	14	35	2
2015	9	0	0	56	25	39	95	15	5		11	4	1	113	46	63	176	23
2016	2	2	1	14	6	8	22	6	1		11	7	6	91	34	45	136	22
Tot	30	3	3	213	106	161	374	48	16
Avg		0.1		7.1	3.5	5.4	12.5	1.6	0.5