Fremantle coach Ross Lyon wants to give Harley Bennell a contract extension despite the midfielder’s latest calf injury.
Bennell’s chances of earning an AFL recall for Sunday’s western derby are over after he tweaked his left calf in the WAFL last Saturday.
Lyon hopes the injury will only rule Bennell out for one week but the club will assess scans before putting a time frame on the 25-year-old’s return.
Bennell has played just two games for Fremantle during his three years at the club and his contract runs out at the end of this season.
Just two weeks ago Lyon said he wanted to give Bennell a contract extension and the latest setback hasn’t changed his mind.
“My position is clear. I’d give Harley a 10-year contract if it was up to me,” Lyon told channel seven.
“He was playing exceptionally well (in the WAFL). We’d actually set him for the derby.
“We think he’ll only miss a week but scans are being conducted.
“We expect him to play (this season) and hopefully play some senior football.”
Bennell tallied 27 disposals and two goals for Peel Thunder on Saturday – his 10th WAFL match of the season.
But his persistent calf issues over the past three years have cast huge doubt on whether his body will ever be able to hold up for an extended period.
In better news for Fremantle, forward Matt Taberner is a good chance to earn a call-up for the derby following his three-goal effort in the WAFL.
It was Taberner’s first game back from a broken foot and Lyon was impressed with the effort.
West Coast are set to welcome back Luke Shuey (personal reasons) and Lewis Jetta (calf) but Josh Kennedy (shin) is set to miss a second straight week.
Fremantle have lost the past six western derbies and will start Sunday’s match underdogs.
Don Freo
Guest
You have been given so many reason by so many people on this thread. Do them the courtesy of reading.. then you will know. Of course, that's if you do yourself the courtesy of thinking. You demonstrate, once again, no awareness about football. By the way, what arrests? One traffic offence?
Don Freo
Guest
Not 'dud' in any way. Injured.
BigAl
Guest
Yep ! The race card trumps all...
Jon Boy
Guest
A awful lot of dud first round picks over the years. Logue seems to have got the curse can't get on the Park.When was the last one that contributed something,? Looks like Brayshaw will break the cycle hopefully (touch wood).
Don Freo
Guest
.. and Jayden Pitt. And Michael Apeness and Alex Pearce being injury free.
dave
Guest
A lot of talk about how bad freo is and Ross Lyon game plan. I just wonder how they would be travelling with a fit and firing morabito and Bennell in the side. Josh Simpson would have been nice too.
Don Freo
Guest
Nice attempt to wriggle out of the racism. The comparisons are invalid at every level. Bennell is many classes above Yarran. Freo's midfield is anything but struggling. Bennell's issues are injury. Yarran has spoken very publicly about his battle with addiction. Poles apart. Better to quit before you draw more attention to it.
Samuel Ord
Roar Guru
Don I appreciate your desire to fly the flag for both Fremantle and Harley Bennell but I think implying that my comparison between HB and Chris Yarran was racially motivated and 'disgusting' is a step too far. List of things Yarran and Bennell both have in common beyond being Indigenous: Both two club players. Both traded as a Hail Mary pass to fix a struggling midfield. Both lauded for leg speed and ability to navigate congestion. Both struggled with drug issues away from football. Both from Western Australia. Both weigh 85 kilograms. Both struggled with low body injuries for years on end. Both have played less than 125 games despite spending the better part of a decade in the system. Both taken in the top 10 of the national draft. 'History doesn't repeat itself, but it sure does rhyme' - Mark Twain.
Paul D
Roar Guru
All the usual Freo haters. Presumably people here think a coach should be publicly slagging off a contracted player and saying he shouldn't resign them. A far better comparison to Yarran than the lazy casual racism above would have been Colin Sylvia. The fact Ross has shown he will publicly torch a player who isn't putting in, and the fact he's backing Harley to the hilt says all you need to know about his committment behind the scenes. Put simply Bennell is such an outstanding talent potentially Freo can't afford to just throw him away. They have to cross their fingers and stick by him. Even if he could be managed through say 12-15 games a year every season that's worth 22 games and then some compared to most other players on their list.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Yep. Harley is going to cost very little and the upshot is a player of Nat Fyfe quality. An absolute win/win. The only 'lose' factor would be to let him go.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
You 'like' them but you complain about them? Dumb! If this misplaced comment is directed at me, I didn't use that term. If it is directed at AB, he isn't making the other comments. Why can't you follow a thread? You'd be better off sitting in a corner and playing with plasticine.
Guttsy
Guest
Clubs go to extraordinary lengths to get players with extraordinary talents to play for them. Harley is clearly an extraordinary talent. And clearly Fremantle are going to extraordinary lengths to get him back from injury.
Jon Boy
Guest
Well reading your comments mostly biased and stupid, it does make a laugh for the day...... I like the comment "Elite injured players'', and the day in day out waffle about injury excuses.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
You continue. Good to see you are reading my comments. The only problem is that you demonstrate the comprehension of Jonboy.
anon
Roar Pro
He's had more arrests than games played at Fremantle! I'm not sure why you would re-sign someone who can barely string a few state league games together without doing a calf. Fremantle clearly don't understand sunk-cost fallacy.
AB
Guest
An article about Don Freo? Now that would make a great case study. And you know I'm talking about your unsolicited obsession in general, there could be an article on the state of the game on the Gold Coast and you would bring up the 8 below average, mediocre, okay at WAFL level players who if fit would have won Freo the past 5 premierships
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
"Unsolicited" doesn't work in that context. An article on the Roar about Freo calls for comments. There have been no articles about me...yet.
AB
Guest
Obsessed with you? No not at all. I just find you're unsolicited obsession with injured Fremantle players comical
johno
Guest
No Issue with this. If the player is talented you give them every opportunity to overcome injury Alex Johnson case in point this weekend coming back after 5 years (I think) Anthony Morabito case number 2 - 7 years on Freo's list for an exceptional debut season and then 2 games afterwards Harley is an exceptional footballer when fit. If he gets over the calf strains and plays a full season then Freo will be the better for it. You stand by your players. that is what the team is seeing when they see Freo stand by Harley. The players are more likely to stand by Freo when Vic suitors come calling
Jon Boy
Guest
Totally agree with that.!