Tim Watson and Garry Lyon have questioned Fremantle midfielder Harley Bennell’s work rate after the star was ruled out of the Dockers’ home and away opener against Geelong with an ongoing calf issue, while Kevin Bartlett deems the trade from Gold Coast as one of the worst decisions in recent years.
Just last week, Dockers’ coach Ross Lyon told the media that he had received a “really positive” email about Bennell’s treatment, but now the former Suns has been ruled out until early in the home and away season.
“He won’t be available for round one, but his rehab is progressing well, particularly post Germany,” Lyon said yesterday via an AFL-run Facebook chat.
“We expect to see him, if all goes to plan, in the early rounds.”
Watson told SEN Breakfast, “this is a major, major problem for Fremantle and Harley Bennell, ” while Lyon said it leaves him questioning Bennell’s preparation.
“He has got the most intricate, complicated calf issue perhaps in the history of footy, or he’s just not right to play footy,” Lyon said.
“These (injuries) are medical freaks, or he hasn’t prepared himself to play.
“If it’s a freakish, anatomical thing with his body, then no one is to blame, it is just one of those unfortunate things in life; or he’s not working hard.”
Richmond great Kevin Bartlett said that the recruitment of Bennell will prove to be one of the worst decisions in recent years.
"They're talking (it will be) maybe three or four games into the WAFL season before he's ready to play. Thats the talk of we heard from the club with Chris Yarran at Richmond, 'he'll be right, he'll miss the first three or four games of the season – he never played a game'," he said.
"After not playing last year and now he's got calf problems again, I's saying its going to be a fact (that is one of the worst recruiting decisions).