TOPIC:

HARLEY Bennell's chances of making his Fremantle debut this season have been cast into more doubt, with the injury-plagued Docker set to be sidelined for at least two months by his latest calf setback.

Bennell hurt his left calf at training last Tuesday and initial scans indicated only a minor tear, which was set to delay his return to main training by a week to 10 days.

He would then have needed about two weeks training with the full squad to be available for match selection.

However, the 24-year-old experienced more discomfort late last week and follow-up scans have revealed the injury is more severe than first thought.

Bennell, who missed the entire 2016 campaign due to problems with his right calf, is now facing 8-10 weeks before he is finally ready to resume playing.

"Upon further assessment and following the latest scans, we were advised that the extent of the calf injury was more severe than the initial diagnosis last week," general manager of football operations Chris Bond said.

I don't think Harley will ever play AFL again. This calf issue just wont go away and as soon as he starts to put real pressure on, it breaks down again. It's a real shame as he has buckets of talent and he has persisted manfully and I hope I am wrong. Good luck to the guy.

Gumbleton # 2

I feel for Harley Bennell what he's going through. I hear the criticism from his latest episode getting kicked off a flight for being intoxicated but anyone who's suffered debilitating illness or injury would understand the frustration and disappointment he is going through. He's a superstar talent being denied the opportunity to do what he's got the God given talent to do and not only that he's being denied the opportunity to really set himself and his family up for life.

Maybe Fremantle have to take a different course and try some different treatments and just back him off completely from rehab programs. Maybe time is going to be the healer. Good luck Harley don't give up.

Who said he's blaming anyone else a/man? You have two choices, get around him and support him or discourage him further by sanctioning him. I don't see what that will achieve other than perhaps him giving up. Clearly he is devastated and that tells me he desperately wants to pull on a Fremantle jumper and be out there helping his team mates.