Harley Bennell's long-awaited debut in Fremantle colours will once again be pushed back after coach Ross Lyon ruled the midfielder out of round one.
Fremantle will face Geelong on Sunday, March 26 at Domain Stadium in its season opener. The Dockers are coming off a dismal season which saw them finish 16th last year after winning the minor premiership in 2015.
Answering questions on a Facebook Q&A for AFL.com.au, Lyon said Bennell would hopefully play early in the year.
"He won't be available for round one but his rehab is progressing well, particularly post-Germany. We expect to see him, if all goes to plan, in the early rounds," the coach said.
Bennell went to Germany last December to see Dr Hans-Wilhelm Muller-Wohlfarht, a specialist who has worked with the likes of 100m world record holder Usain Bolt, to overcome the calf issues that have plagued him in his time at Fremantle and forced the ex-Sun to miss all of 2016.
The Dockers expected at the time of Bennell's setback last November that he would be ready to go for round one.
"I think it’s a slight strain from the information I've been given, we still think he'll be available for round one," Fremantle list manager Brad Lloyd said on AFL.com.au's NAB AFL Draft Countdown Show at the time.