Harley Bennell has suffered another calf muscle injury, meaning more bad news for Fremantle in their nightmare start to the AFL season.
The 24-year-old midfielder hurt his left calf while running on Tuesday as he was building to a much-anticipated comeback.
The Dockers are confident it is a minor problem that will only delay Bennell's comeback by an extra week.
But it is just what Fremantle do not need after opening the season with two heavy losses that leave them last on the ladder.
Bennell's injury-prone calves mean he has not played in the AFL since he was traded from Gold Coast to his home state at the end of the 2015 season.
He went to Germany in the off-season for treatment on his right calf.
There is no clear time frame on when Bennell will play again.
But coach Ross Lyon said after Sunday's loss to Port Adelaide that Bennell had been making progress.
"He's rehabbing. It's at the exciting stage," Lyon said.
"You should see him in some team training over the next few weeks and get to the WAFL and then play."
After joining Fremantle more than a year ago, Bennell missed more than two months of the pre-season.
The signs were more promising when he played pre-season matches and dominated in the opening round of the WAFL.
But he then suffered another calf injury and was ruled out for the season.
Bennell debuted for the Suns in 2011 and played 81 games before his trade to the Dockers.
He last played an AFL match in round 22, 2015.
Two months ago Lyon strongly defended Bennell, saying there was a racist element to criticisms of the player.
"Harley is a good person, very emotionally intelligent and an incredibly hard trainer," Lyon said.
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