Harley Bennell's attempts to revive his AFL career at a fourth AFL club appears to have fallen by the wayside.
The 30-year-old Noongar midfielder joined traditional VFL powerhouse Port Melbourne this year at the end of a stint for Tiwi Bombers in the Northern Territory Football League.
But a shock move to play for country club Wodonga Raiders in the midst of the Ovens and Murray season is set to put the 88-gamer off the radar of AFL scouts.
Bennell debuted on Saturday for his fourth team this year – after gaining a clearance just days earlier – and on the back of the Borough loaning out the former Gold Coast, Fremantle and Melbourne midfielder to feeder club Port Melbourne Colts.
He struggled in the first six VFL rounds – averaging 10.8 possessions – after the injury niggles that plagued his promising AFL career continued to hamper his fresh start for the Borough.
The club rested Bennell the next round following a nine-disposal game, before playing for the Colts the week after in the reputedly-strong Southern Football League.
The VFL club last week were forced to defend Bennell remaining on its playing list once his name appeared on the transfer list seeking a clearance.
The Colts also denied to CODE Sports that he was walking out.
"Harley's still at Port,'' Borough football manager Glenn Balmforth said.
"He's had some personal stuff going on, so he's spending some time with family at the moment.
"But he's still in the loop with us – we talk to him every week."
The Raiders did, however, confirm the rumours by the way of their social media accounts.
Bennell is believed to have wanted to link up next to Kokatha man Cam Ellis-Yolmen, who also joined the Wodonga club after 39 games for Adelaide and nine at Brisbane.
The Ovens and Murray Football League is also one of the most financially lucrative competitions in country football for players.
"Hands up if you're excited because just how good is this going to be," the club posted on Thursday.
"Two former AFL players will hopefully take to the field for us this Saturday following the announcement of Harley Bennell's signing and to be honest, we just cannot wait.
"Just the boost our club needs ... bring on Saturday. We feel a win in the air."
The Indigenous pair provided a massive boost to their new side, breaking the drought against Myrtleford in what was a previously winless season.
Bennell and Ellis-Yeoman were both seen making a beeline for Raiders coach Marc Almond inside the changerooms and were spotted in an embrace.
Port Melbourne, despite its denials that Bennell was on the move north to the border, believed that the 2010 No.2 draft selection will return to the club in arguably the strongest competition outside of the AFL.
"Yes, potentially. Hopefully. I think that's his aim," Balmforth said.
"Hopefully we get some games out of him in the back end of the year. Obviously he played the first part of the season.
"As we said at the time, his body was banged up because he played a full season in the NT and then pretty much came here off a limited pre-season.
"He played six games straight. When you're a 30, 31-year-old, the body doesn't hold up as well as you'd like it to. He took an opportunity to refresh."
