JAMES Hird won't be joining Fremantle as an opposition analyst.  

The former Bombers champion was sounded out for a part-time role based in Melbourne, but has decided against taking the opportunity to step back into football with the Dockers.

Hird, who quit as Essendon's coach at the end of 2015 amid the fallout from the club's drawn-out supplements scandal, was one of several candidates in the mix to replace Freo's opposition scout Steve Lennie.  

"We've spoken to James over the last week or so and both James and the club have decided it's going to be quite difficult in regards to his time commitments to be able to do that role," Fremantle football manager Chris Bond told Mix 94.5.  

"So we'll continue to work on that role and keep moving forward."

Meanwhile, Bond confirmed the Dockers aren't expecting to regain injury-plagued star Harley Bennell for several weeks.  

Bennell suffered his latest calf tear in mid-February while training at WAFL-alignment club Peel during a club-imposed suspension.  

The 25-year-old undertook a three-week rehabilitation program but is not yet ready to return.

"Harley's back running. He had that little bit of a tweak of that calf while he was away," Bond said. 

"We want to give it a few more weeks and then we're expecting him hopefully in the next few weeks or so, depending on how his fitness is going, to get back to Peel level.

"Then we're just going to wait and see."