FREMANTLE coach Ross Lyon won't be tempted to rush Harley Bennell back for Saturday's trip to face Collingwood at the MCG, despite his standout return in the WAFL.

And Lyon has backed boom forward recruit Jesse Hogan to hit the scoreboard more heavily soon after going without a kick for the first time in his 80-game career against Brisbane. 

In his first game for the season after more calf dramas, Bennell picked up 30 touches and booted two goals in Peel's narrow loss to West Perth, prompting speculation he could be parachuted back into the senior team this week. 

AROUND THE STATE LEAGUES Dons mid fires, Harley roars on return

But Lyon hosed down the talk, suggesting the injury-plagued former Sun needs more time in the WAFL.

"He just needs to continue to build," Lyon told Channel Seven.

"Really thrilled that he made a return, he just needs to keep building." 

Lyon was pleased with Hogan's effort in the after-the-siren one-point win over the Lions, when the star big man had eight disposals – a week after kicking 1.4 in the deflating loss to Essendon.

The ex-Demons gun has eight goals in nine appearances in purple – after kicking 152 in 71 games for Melbourne – and Lyon is confident the goals will come. 

"I thought in the last quarter he really stepped up, made some great contests and got involved a little bit higher up," Lyon said.

"Some of our forwards weren't sharing their space as well as we should have been. 

"He was brilliant the week before.

"He contributed in a manner we value so I'm sure the goals will come."

The Dockers received some positive news on the injury front on Tuesday with young ruckman Sean Darcy making a remarkable recovery from an ankle complaint.

Darcy was ruled out for 4-6 weeks only seven days ago, but could return for Peel on Sunday against Subiaco.

FULL INJURY LIST Who's ruled out and who's a test?

"We had to initially go with a really conservative assessment on Sean's return date, he had quite a serious mechanism (how the injury was sustained) and his initial presentation was quite bad," high performance manager Jason Weber said. 

"The level of treatment Sean received from (rehabilitation physiotherapist) Marshall Stockton, and his application as well – we're talking 20 hours out of 24 in a day – they worked really hard."

Veteran small forward Hayden Ballantyne is also a chance to return, almost certainly at Peel.   

The feisty goalsneak hasn't been sighted at AFL level since pinging his hamstring in round one, and he suffered a setback in his comeback game for the Thunder five weeks ago.

Stephen Hill (quad) is only two weeks away from his return, however the Dockers have again lost youngster Luke Valente to groin worries for three weeks.

"He had them on arrival at the club and we haven't been able to quite get past them," Weber said.

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