Fremantle coach Ross Lyon says he understands the impatience of people wanting to see Harley Bennell back in AFL ranks, but he won't be pressured into playing the former Sun before he's ready.
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Bennell has performed strongly in three WAFL games since making his latest return from recurrent calf issues.
Calls are growing louder for the Dockers to hand Bennell an AFL recall, but Lyon doesn't think the 26-year-old is ready just yet.
"He's still got some building. It's been a four-year build, on and off. We all know the story," Lyon said of Bennell, whose two appearances for the Dockers came in 2017.
"I saw the highlights (of his WAFL games). They looked pretty good. But we'd like a bit more body of work and conditioning.
"I mean the reality is it's four games in four years. It's not a lot of football.
"I understand the impatience and the hype and the story around it. But I'm not going to waver in my understanding of what's required to be successful at AFL level.
"It doesn't matter what external pressures are put on me. We're a very strong playing list and coaching group, and we've got the best interests of our players and the club."
Fremantle (7-5) will be aiming to make it four wins on the trot when they take on Melbourne at the MCG on Saturday.
The Demons have only won three games for the season, but Lyon is wary of what they can produce.
"We've got a lot of belief in ourselves, but we know Melbourne have been going to the end," Lyon said.
"They've been fierce, and they'll see us as a scalp because we've won the last few in a row."
Australian Associated Press
