Bennell sidelined for half of AFL season

Harley Bennell's calf muscle injury will put the high-profile Fremantle recruit out of action for at least half the AFL season.

Fremantle recruit Harley Bennell is to be sidelined until the second half of the AFL season. (AAP)

The bad news keeps coming for winless Fremantle, with high-profile recruit Harley Bennell sidelined until the second half of the AFL season.

According to the AFL website, Bennell will need about 10 weeks to recover from his calf muscle injury.

The former Gold Coast player is yet to make his Dockers debut.

Bennell suffered the injury last month while playing in a pre-season WAFL match.

Star Dockers ruckman Aaron Sandilands had surgery on Monday after his heavy hit from West Coast opponent Nic Naitanui in a marking contest.

Sandilands is out of action for about six weeks because of broken ribs and a punctured lung.

And Dockers captain David Mundy will be sidelined for Sunday's must-win match against North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium.

Mundy injured a calf muscle at training last week, ruling him out of the Western Derby loss.