HARLEY Bennell has offered a warning to Collingwood superstar Jordan De Goey not to rush his recovery after his trip to Germany to see the man known as 'Healing Hans'.
De Goey's bid to make a miracle recovery from a hamstring injury for next week's Grand Final is over, with the Magpies suffering a heartbreaking four-point preliminary final loss to the Giants.
The 23-year-old planned to ramp up his activity on Sunday until that result, after being treated by world-renowned specialist Dr Hans-Wilhelm Muller-Wohlfahrt in Germany.
Former Docker and Sun Bennell made the same trip in December 2016, except his problems extended beyond just his hamstrings, to his calves, glutes and lower back.
"I felt really good after it when I got back, for a month or two, but then we ramped the weights up a bit too quick in my rehab and I got another little nick, which I wasn't too happy about," Bennell told AFL.com.au.
I thought we'd fixed it, so then I was back to the drawing board. - Harley Bennell
De Goey was able to get involved in some light ball work at training during the week and told Channel Seven before Saturday's preliminary final he was confident of being ready for the Grand Final.
"I've actually been feeling really good and pulling up probably better than I ever have before," De Goey said.
"To get a few good sprints and some footy touch work is really good for the mental aspect of things but also the physical side."
Bennell made contact with De Goey as soon as he heard about the gun Magpie preparing to fly to Germany, and he said it was "100 per cent" worth it.
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"I speak to Jordan once or twice a month, to see how he's going. I haven't met him, but we keep in touch with how he's going, and speak about football more than anything," Bennell said.
"I messaged him when I found out he was going over to Germany and told him to say g'day to Dr Muller-Wohlfahrt for me.
"I just said, 'Good luck with it all, brother, and I hope to see you back out there and hopefully youse (Collingwood) make the Grand Final, and hopefully I see you play in the Grand Final'.
"I hope it works for him, because he's one of my favourite players; just the way he goes about it. He's got some magic about him."