Let’s be realistic, Fremantle’s gamble on the troubled but highly talented Harley Bennell is destined to go either one of two ways.

It’s easy to envision the former number two draft pick turning his plummeting career around, becoming a legitimate superstar of the competition and helping Fremantle continue to vie for premiership glory.

But sadly, it’s not that hard to imagine, being back at home and amid some dubious old mates, Bennell’s penchant for partying could exacerbate.

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Simply, his problems could spiral even deeper.

Fremantle are well aware the punt they are taking: Bennell could become an infamous bust who may well be out of the league in 12 months. He could be Ashley Sampi 2.0.

You can see why Fremantle were so keen on Bennell.

Can Harley Bennell keep Fremantle in the top four? Photo: Getty

He’s the x-factor type player they desperately need.

Under coach Ross Lyon, the Dockers have been extremely well drilled and they are brimmed with solid but essentially robotic type of players.

They are collectively disciplined and adhere to Lyon’s rigid principle.

But the Dockers don’t appear to have that extra gear needed to win premierships.

The cold hard truth is they still have been unable to win that coveted first flag.

They have won 75 per cent of games since the back end of 2012 – Lyon’s first year as Fremantle coach.

But without a premiership, their ultimate legacy could end up being a very-good-but-not-great team much like Adelaide 2005-06 or Western Bulldogs 2008-10.

Despite dominating the early stages of the season, as the year wore on it became obvious that Fremantle’s struggles to score and their lack of creativity would stymie their chances during the finals.

They were a notable peg behind grand finalists Hawthorn and West Coast in terms of attacking flair.

The Dockers were a rugged and brutish team but lacked the panache of their premiership competitors.

During the midst of their early season dominance – where some pundits in Perth believed Fremantle could go through the season undefeated – Lyon described Fremantle as a “hardworking and blue collar” side.

At the time it seemed Lyon – a master of the understatement – was being typically subdued but with the benefit of hindsight, he was actually being surprisingly candid.

A focused Bennell, in conjunction with Brownlow Medalist Nat Fyfe, represents a scary proposition. Photo: Getty

Lyon is widely known as being somewhat stubborn in his defensive philosophies, but even he would have realised his team desperately needed to tinker with their list and style to stay afloat a congested premiership race.

Fremantle were fortunate to piggyback on Nat Fyfe’s early season brilliance – it’s doubtful anyone has started a season so hot – but they needed more dynamism across the board.

Fyfe is the best player in the league, but he clearly needs more support.

Enter Bennell, who has demonstrated match-winner type credentials throughout his tender career.

Pair him alongside Michael Walters, and Hayden Ballantyne – if he can get his mojo back – and Fremantle suddenly look far more dangerous.

Bennell, a crafty 185cm midfielder/forward, is rarefied talent.

He’s capable of blowing games open in a blistering few minutes – much like Cyril Rioli – but he’s more than merely just a burst player.

Bennell has demonstrated he can dominate entire games.

In his brief 92-game career – where he has had extra burden being on a fledgling team – Bennell has had numerous spectacular performances such as kicking six goals against a strong Geelong team in 2014, and notching 39 disposals against Adelaide in one of his last ever games with Gold Coast.

The precociousness is evident. Unfortunately, so is Bennell’s unfortunate knack of getting himself into unwanted situations, including being arrested during a brawl in the southern Perth suburb of Mandurah in 2013 and, more infamously, being pictured on the front page of a newspaper with illicit drugs.

Last month, police charged Bennell following an incident outside a Gold Coast nightclub. It was the final straw for the Suns.

Will Ross Lyon’s hard-nosed approach keep Bennell on the straight and narrow? Photo: Getty

It is interesting, and perhaps revealing, that so few teams showed interest in the wayward but brilliant Bennell.

Richmond was one apparent suitor but pulled out of the race after being disappointed in initial discussions with Bennell and his management.

Perhaps Bennell’s deal with Fremantle had been stitched up for a while, so Richmond never believed they were a realistic chance.

Still, there is the more sinister possibility that perhaps some clubs think Bennell is beyond repair and that he’s damaged goods.

Still, luring Bennell back home – at the cost of essentially pick 16 – seemed worth the punt for Fremantle, who are in a crucial juncture in the Lyon era.

Declaring Fremantle’s premiership window shut feels like it is becoming an annual rite.

It happened again in the aftermath of the Dockers’ preliminary final loss to Hawthorn.

Fremantle has already lost a number of experienced players, headlined by champion key defender Luke McPharlin.

Captain Matthew Pavlich’s future is not known but the prevailing belief is that he will retire this off season.

Finishing top four in 2016 already looms as a dogfight with teams such as Geelong and Port Adelaide likely to rapidly rise up the ladder.

Harley Bennell has a healthy share of Fremantle’s fortunes in his hands.

How he responds will be intriguing.