Fremantle's Harley Bennell has suffered yet another setback in his quest to play his first AFL game for the Dockers, a new calf injury sidelining him for up to 10 weeks.
Bennell, selected by Gold Coast with the No.2 pick at the 2010 draft, missed all of the 2016 season with a calf injury.
The talented but injury-plagued midfielder was nearing a return to the field when he suffered a fresh calf injury last week at training.
The Dockers were buoyed by initial scans that showed the injury was relatively minor, and would see Bennell miss about a week of training, until he later reported further discomfort.
"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," Fremantle football boss Chris Bond said.
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"It's disappointing for Harley and the club, particularly given that he was on the verge of a return to full training with the playing group and back out playing.
"Given his outstanding attitude and approach to injury rehabilitation since he has been at Fremantle, Harley and the club are now planning for him to be available for selection within eight to 10 weeks."
Bennell, 24, played 81 games in five seasons with the Suns but has been stricken by calf issues since crossing to Fremantle at the end of 2015.
