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Harley Bennell has started training with Melbourne as he looks to secure a third shot at AFL football. On the same day the Demons announced the signing of Mitch Brown as a rookie, after he was delisted by Essendon. Bennell is striving to win a contract with the Demons during the pre-season supplemental selection period (SSP) - the system in which Richmond secured Sydney Stack before the 2019 season. Although he had previously visited the club and met with coaching staff, Bennell began the trial with a weights session on Tuesday. He continues to recover from surgery on both calves, which troubled him throughout a difficult three-year stint at Fremantle, and is on a modified training program. Last week, Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin said there was a chance Bennell might not be available for round one due to the injuries but he was eager to turn his ailing AFL career around. "We're really excited about Harley," Goodwin told SEN. "He's certainly trying to really turn his life around and put a step forward. "We speak about the love of the game every time I've caught up with Harley. "He's 27 and he's still got a love of the game. "He's emotional about where his footy has been and where he wants it to get to and he doesn't want to waste it. "We want to give him that opportunity to train with us, prepare as best we can knowing it's going to be a journey." Bennell was drafted by Gold Coast at pick No.2 in 2010 and played 81 games, kicking 92 goals, before being traded to Fremantle at the end of 2015 after a number of off-field issues. Calf problems limited Bennell to just two AFL appearances for the Dockers, both at the end of 2017. Meanwhile, former Geelong and Bombers player Brown was handed another chance through the SSP. Essendon delisted Brown after 55 AFL games in red and black but the 29-year-old's versatility has earned him a contract with the Demons. "Mitch has shown great resilience throughout his career and is a skilful, versatile player who has proven he is capable of having an impact at AFL level," Melbourne football boss Josh Mahoney told the club's website. "We feel his experience at both ends of the ground and his elite endurance will make him a great addition to our list."
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