Fremantle coach Ross Lyon says he should send a box of chocolates to the team’s new physio weapon for her wonder work on Harley Bennell.
Bennell has been blighted by calf injuries since arriving at Fremantle at the end of 2015, playing just two AFL games since.
Even German specialist Dr Hans-Wilhelm Muller-Wohlfahrt couldn’t find a permanent fix to the issues.
But ballet conditioning expert Paula Baird has made some significant inroads since starting work earlier this year with Bennell.
Bennell, after a successful WAFL return earlier this month, will line up again for Peel Thunder in Saturday’s clash with Subiaco in Mandurah.
“I need to send her a box of chocolates – the physiotherapist from the ballet,” Lyon said.
“What she’s done with him has really contributed strongly and complemented the program we had in place.
“He’s actually running as freely and with high-end speed and power as we’ve seen since he’s been here.
“If that can keep happening, we can all start to get a little bit excited.”
Bennell’s time at Fremantle has also been plagued by off-field misdemeanours.
Lyon is hopeful the story will have a happy ending.
“The kid’s been to hell and back,” Lyon said of Bennell, who could make his AFL return early next month.
“(He’s been) under a lot of scrutiny – sometimes brought upon himself; sometimes not fair; not accurate.
“But he’ll just keep working through. He’s showed great resilience and we don’t want to lose players with his level of talent out of the game for whatever reason.
“In recent history, there’s been some sad stories. We don’t want another one.”
Bennell suffered a perforated ear drum earlier this week, but it was not expected to rule him out of Saturday’s WAFL match.
The Dockers have been boosted by the return of Michael Walters (knee) and Nathan Wilson (back) for Saturday night’s clash with Sydney at the SCG.
But Stephen Hill will miss another week with a quad injury.
No timeline has been set for Brad Hill’s return from a knee issue.
Hill suffered the injury in round two, and Lyon said the club needed to tread carefully, given heavy bruising like that could be a precursor to a stress reaction or a fracture.
Once the former Hawk is ready to return, he’ll have to spend a week in the WAFL as part of his club-imposed suspension for his run-in with police earlier this month at a Scarborough night spot.
Hill was also ordered to undergo an alcohol education program as part of his punishment.
“Good people sometimes get it wrong. He sits in that basket,” Lyon said.
“He’ll work his way through. He’s been, overall, fantastic for us as a club.”
Sydney produced a selection surprise by naming Lance Franklin and Dan Hannebery.
Don Freo
Guest
Oh, his time at Gold Coast showed he was well and truly suited to the rigours of AFL football. This is so anon...an expert on gossip tabloids but absolutely no idea of a players' playing history. But...comment anyway.
Dave
Guest
Walters coming back, Tabaner doing alright when he was playing, Backline starting to come together nicely,Fyfe in Brownlow form, some good young players coming through and the potential of Bennell getting a decent run. Freo are looking ok. Not yet great but I'm feeling like they bottomed out and are slowly on the way back to playing finals. And the dogs and tigers have shown flags can be won without a powerful forward setup as long as the team pressure is on.sounds just like a Ross Lyon type team.
Don Freo
Guest
I'd imagine the coach that supports a player and brings him through against the odds really jars against your narrative. I understand your disappointment. Toughen up, anon. A few ballet lessons might give your mind some flexibility and strength.
Birdman
Guest
Have to admit that I thought Ross was trolling with that comment.
Paul D
Roar Guru
Sure, but anyone else makes that remark and I wouldn’t care. It’s like every time you write on here you forget I have a memory like rain man. Because it’s you, it’s not just a gentle joke No arguments with that part - What about the last sentence? I’m interested to know what your motivation was for including that part?
Paul D
Roar Guru
Sorry I had a Jonboy moment on the reply function That was supposed to be a reply to the wa fishwives association regarding what I’d said about Walsh . Not comments on anything you’d said about Walsh.
anon
Roar Pro
Now you're making things up. All I have ever said about Phil Walsh is that Pyke is a far superior coach given he's getting better results despite not having Dangerfield.
Paul D
Roar Guru
I seem to recall remarks in extremely bad taste and blackest of humour about Phil Walsh. Nothing personally hateful. In any event, he was dead at the time. Anon likes to try and harass living people into the grave.
Kane
Guest
He could be anything if he gets himself right. And he needs to get off the grog for a couple of years.
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
We had a kid in our footy team at school who did ballet. He could fly for hangers like nobodies business.
Jonboy
Guest
I agree Matti i, will set myself up for more hateful insult's from a bloke who thinks he is Big and full of love.
anon
Roar Pro
Couldn’t help yourself with Ross though could you. Only you could turn a remark about a gift of thank you into a sleazy sneer. No sense of humour. If you can't make gentle jokes about sexual harassers then who can you laugh at? Even if Freo got rid of Bennell you’d then be into them for not looking after his welfare. With comments like this doozy Yarran invaded a home and violently assaulted the occupants while a baby was in the next room. I stand by my comments.
User
Roar Rookie
Paul not defending anon but for yourself to be outraged is not perplexing but more a come on mate, off the top of my head you've made less than savoury comments about cousins, sampi and Phil Walsh/cy Walsh. I
Jonboy
Guest
I have been a critic,but despite all the issues he appears to have worked incredibly hard to get back so hopefully he can. Could have easily given up.
Paul D
Roar Guru
Couldn’t help yourself with Ross though could you. Only you could turn a remark about a gift of thank you into a sleazy sneer. Even if Freo got rid of Bennell you’d then be into them for not looking after his welfare. With comments like this doozy December 26th 2016 @ 01:43 pm anon said “Sounds like it to me. (Shane) Yarran’s up with his mates in the Kimberley, got on the turps. It’s not too far fetched when you consider this guy doesn’t have much impulse control and has anger issues ie. glassing someone in the face, violently assaulting someone while a baby was in the next room. The guy is a monster and it’s only a matter time before he kills.“ Did you forget to add himself to the end of that sentence? You were saying about not being hateful?
anon
Roar Pro
Not hateful just being pragmatic. If you can only manage two games in 2.5 seasons and constantly break down then you aren't suited to the rigours of the AFL. By any measure the punt they took on Bennell has been nothing short of a disaster. Not only breaks down constantly, but clearly doesn't take preparation, training, recovery, preseason seriously with his numerous off field indiscretions.
Mattyb
Guest
Kris,I don't think I'd compare ballet to yoga,ballet is more about strength and flexibility of the ligaments while yoga is more just about flexibility,even over stretching which could be harmful for professional athletes. In fact maybe clubs are doing to much yoga and that's why we are seeing so many injuries,I think it would have more a spiritual benifit than a benifit sport wise,and the mental side of things would probably be better served by a sports psychologist for a sportsperson. I'm also not sure if yoga is the best thing for back alignment,which is important for an athlete. It would be interesting to find out what studies or practises in regards to yoga are undertaken in countries like Russia or China that AFL clubs might be able to benifit from.
anon
Roar Pro
“I need to send her a box of chocolates – the physiotherapist from the ballet,” Lyon said. No, Rossy. Just no. By the way, the Bennell will he won't he play drama is out of hand. I've never come across anything like it in my lifetime of watching this game and many other sports. If after 2.5 seasons he can't get on the park because of calf problems, if everytime he gets on the park he aggravates his calves, then he's never going to make it as a footballer. Fremantle would be sensible to cut him loose at year's end, but this is a club that consistently makes poor decisions so it won't surprise me to see him stay on.
Kris
Guest
Michael Gale was doing ballet exercises for his hamstring injuries back in the 90s. It is basically Pilates and most clubs would be doing Pilates and/or Yoga sessions.
Mattyb
Guest
I'm surprised more players don't do ballet in this day and age,really good for the muscles and we are seeing most clubs with severe injury tolls,should be something clubs look into. Will be back in Perth next week so if Bennell can get through this week I'll definitely be off to watch Peel next week if Bennells there.