Bennell no closer to return from calf injury

Fremantle recruit Harley Bennell is still no closer to returning from a calf injury that he suffered the week prior to Round 1 of the AFL season.

Bennell injured his calf in a WAFL match and he has been unable to train since, with the club now considering calling on calf specialists to aid his recovering, with his condition not improving.

"His return to play is not imminent and we're working through it," Coach Ross Lyon said.

"I've got to have that meeting later today. It's not an insignificant period of time. It's not going to be in the next three to four weeks.

"We certainly won't be taking shortcuts, so when he returns will be when we feel he can sustain it. He's had some inherent calf issues over a period of time that have just haunted him a little bit.

"We thought we were on top of it. Clearly we weren't.

"We've gone to the best experts in Australia – the head of the AIS, Craig Purdam. Our guys are mapping out a strong plan and I'll have a meeting later today just to firm that up with Harley and our conditioners.

"It won't be an insignificant period of time, because we don't want to take any risks."

Fremantle take on West Coast in the derby on Saturday evening at 5.40pm AEST.