FREMANTLE coach Ross Lyon says he should send a box of thank-you chocolates to the team's new physio weapon for her wonder work on Harley Bennell.

Bennell has been blighted by calf injuries since arriving at Fremantle at the end of 2015, playing just two AFL games since.

Even German specialist expert Dr Hans-Wilhelm Muller-Wohlfahrt couldn't find a permanent fix to the issues.

But ballet conditioning expert Paula Baird has made some significant inroads since starting work earlier this year with Bennell.

Bennell, after a successful WAFL return earlier this month, will line up again for Peel Thunder in Saturday's clash with Subiaco in Mandurah.

"I need to send her a box of chocolates – the physiotherapist from the ballet," Lyon said.

"What she's done with him has really contributed strongly and complemented the program we had in place.

"He's actually running as freely and with high-end speed and power as we've seen since he's been here.

"If that can keep happening, we can all start to get a little bit excited."

Bennell's time at Fremantle has also been plagued by off-field misdemeanours.

Lyon is hopeful the story will have a happy ending.

"The kid's been to hell and back," Lyon said.

"(He's been) under a lot of scrutiny – sometimes brought upon himself; sometimes not fair; not accurate.

"But he'll just keep working through. He's showed great resilience and we don't want to lose players with his level of talent out of the game for whatever reason.

"In recent history, there's been some sad stories. We don't want another one."

Bennell earlier this week suffered a perforated ear drum, but it was not expected to rule him out of Saturday's WAFL match.