Tim Watson believes Fremantle would be “running out of patience” with injury-plagued midfielder Harley Bennell.
Dockers football manager Peter Bell confirmed on Monday that the 26-year-old suffered another setback to his troublesome calf during a pre-season training session.
Despite not playing a single game in 2018, Bennell was handed a one-year contract extension.
“I think they’ve got to be running out of patience,” Watson told SEN Breakfast.
“Harley Bennell joined the Dockers at the end of 2015 – he has played two games for Fremantle.
“They gave him a contract extension, he’s still having calf problems. I think there’s a strong element in player welfare the way that they’ve handled Harley Bennell.
“They obviously wanted him to succeed because he’s such a high draft pick and he is a very talented player.”
Garry Lyon posed the question whether Fremantle is better off releasing the former No.2 draft pick, given his checkered injury history and his long list of off-field misdemeanours.
“Do they cut their losses?” Lyon said.
Watson replied: “At some point you have to make that decision."
“They don’t need to cut him now, but at the end of this year you’re probably going to say, ‘we gave it our best shot, I don’t know whether you gave it your best shot.’”
Ross Lyon's side take on North Melbourne in their season opener at Optus Stadium on March 24.