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HARLEY Bennell will not play this weekend, but Gold Coast coach Rodney Eade says he wants the under-siege midfielder to stay at the club.
A News Corp report on Thursday claimed that 2013 photographs of Bennell in a Tasmanian hotel room showed him with illicit substances.
Bennell trained with the Suns on Thursday morning and Eade said the coaches, leadership group, AFL and AFL Players' Association had all spoken to the 22-year-old.
"He won't play this weekend," Eade said.
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"With it happening so close to the game, we're worried about the headspace Harley's in and worried about his welfare.
"From a club point of view and players' point of view, we think it's appropriate he doesn't play this weekend.
"I don't think it has set in yet, the enormity of the press coverage, so we think it's best he doesn't play."
Gold Coast plays North Melbourne at Metricon Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
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Gold Coast CEO Andrew Travis also addressed the media and said Bennell's welfare was the club's priority and the Suns would discuss things more deeply with him in coming days.
"Our priority overnight and throughout the morning is our genuine concern for Harley and his welfare," Travis said.
"We can't underestimate the toll of the last 12 hours could [have], and has had, on his wellbeing. That will remain our absolute focus over the coming days."
Eade said he fully supported the West Australian.
"If you take what's happened the last 24 hours out, we'd like Harley to be at this club," he said.
"We'd like Harley to be here. We see him as part of our fabric, part of our growth, we'd still like to think that'd be the case, whether that's (giving him) counseling, some hard talks, but we'll think about that in the next week."
Rodney Eade and Gold Coast CEO Andrew Travis face the media. Picture: Getty Images
The players' association also issued a statement of support, but has not named Bennell as the player in question.
"We have been working closely with the player involved to provide him with as much support as possible," Marsh said in the statement.
"Our absolute priority is the health and wellbeing of our players and we have been working hard to ensure appropriate support and wellbeing networks are in place for all players who require them.
"We have been in constant contact with the club and AFL, and are working closely with both parties to address the current issues."
It is the second drugs controversy to have rocked Gold Coast in the past week after reports that former player Karmichael Hunt named Suns players as cocaine users.
