Senior Sydney players have been in contact with Harley Bennell's former teammates for character references, as the Swans' interest in the discarded Docker continues to rise.
According toย The Age,ย several Swans leaders have phoned former teammates of Bennell's to learn more about the 26-year-old's level of professionalism.
The contact being made has reportedly been under the advisement of Swans coach John Longmire.
The injury-prone Bennell has suffered a string of setbacks over his career, with calf injuries being a recurring issue during the playmaker's stint at Freo.
Sydney believes their medical team have the ability to get Bennell fit again, and many of their queries are said to be in regards to his off-field behaviour.
The former Gold Coast Sun has had a number of off-field incidents take place over the course of his career, with the catalyst occurring during his time at Metricon.
Bennell was linked to alleged drug use in 2015, after photos emerged of him in a room with lines of white powder. The photos were said to have been taken two years prior in 2013.
In 2017, Bennell was kicked off a Gold Coast-bound flight before it departed because he was intoxicated.
And in January 2018, he was banished from training with the Dockers for two months and fined $15,000 with $5000 suspended following an altercation at a nightclub that involved an "excessive amount of alcohol."
He is said to have matured significantly since then, however, with Bennell announcing the birth of his first child in July.
With Sydney's interest continuing to rise, the chances of Bennell landing a spot on Sydney's list continue to go higher.
