Freo kryptonite to Bennell’s Superman

FREMANTLE coach Ross Lyon admits the club may have pushed Harley Bennell too hard this season, saying it was trying to turn him into AFL’s version of Superman. Bennell is yet to play a senior game for the Dockers because of chronic calf issues on both legs. The former Gold Coast midfielder is a chance to make his playing return via the WAFL next week before pushing for his Dockers debut later in July. Bennell was sent to Germany last December to receive treatment from soft tissue specialist HansWilhelm MullerWohlfahrt. Since then, he has suffered several more calf setbacks — a situation to which Lyon believes the club contributed. “We probably pushed Harley beyond what he needed to be pushed — trying to create something like Superman really,” he said. “He was 40 per cent above our cohort average on leg strength, on calf strength. And coming to the club he was probably the weakest.

“So that gives you context of how hard he worked and how hard we pushed him.

“But in hindsight, could we have backed it off earlier? Did we need to take him to that level?

“We were trying to build something really strong and sustainable. But he’s such a quality athlete. Did we need to take him to that? That’s probably the debate.”

The Dockers are set to be bolstered by the return of skipper Nat Fyfe (bruised sternum) and ruckman Aaron Sandilands (hamstring) for Sunday’s clash with St Kilda at Domain Stadium.

Fyfe has been carrying his chest injury for more than a month and wore a protective vest in the shock loss to Brisbane Lions three weeks ago.