Ross Lyon believes criticism of injured Harley Bennell is due to race and rumour

ROSS Lyon has launched a passionate defence of Harley Bennell, indicating race and rumour have played a role in criticism of his injured playmaker.

Harley Bennell in action for Fremantle in the NAB Challenge.

ROSS Lyon has launched a passionate defence of Harley Bennell, indicating race and rumour have played a role in criticism of his injured playmaker.

Bennell missed all of last year with a calf injury and recently slightly tore the calf in his “other leg”, which means he’ll likely miss the early rounds of the AFL season.

There was speculation, which Dockers coach Lyon strongly denied, that Bennell missed last season because of issues other than his leg.

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“When it’s a white kid, it’s a calf, when it’s a black kid with a chequered history, it’s a drug problem. That’s what was eluded to,” Lyon said.

Asked if the football world was racist, Lyon said: “Is it the football world?

“AFL football has been a great champion and a great vehicle for indigenous players and Perth is mostly Noongar, and Noongar players express themselves and develop and get opportunity.

Harley Bennell joined Fremantle from Gold Coast at the end of 2014.

“But there’s ongoing challenges, we’ve all see that. And I think indigenous players themselves are quite vocal about that.

“The country itself has ongoing challenges with how we celebrate Australia and recognising our indigenous population and where it sits in history.

“I’m not political at all, but racism is an ongoing challenge, worldwide racism is ongoing challenge, isn’t it. So it’s topical.

“But with Harley, I’m supportive and protective of all my players, but as I told them, I will support you until I can’t.

“Harley is a good person, very emotionally intelligent and an incredibly hard trainer.”

Fremantle has been a leader in its indigenous programs; currently one in four Dockers players is indigenous.

Lyon took exception when told of comments made by SEN hosts, Kevin Bartlett and Garry Lyon.

Bartlett said the Harley trade from Gold Coast to Fremantle at the end of 2015 would prove to be one of the worst in recent years.

Ross Lyon has a laugh at Fremantle training. Picture: Daniel Wilkins.

“Those who sit there and take no risk and don’t draft anyone, they can criticise the world,” the Fremantle coach said. “Those at the coalface have to make calculated decisions.”

Lyon, on his breakfast show, said Bennell had either had a freakish calf injury or had not properly prepared himself to play AFL.

“That’s speaks of their naivety and their sensationalism because Harley’s an incredibly hard trainer, he’s not scared to train,” the Dockers coach said.

“And the feedback from our playing group is he’s taken to levels in rehab that very few have matched. That talks to ill-informed commentary and that would disappoint me.”

Bennell is expected to be available in the early rounds of the season.

“He’s progressing well, we’ve got a strong plan. Speed’s an issue, so we’re taking a real slower path,” Lyon said,

Lyon said he had little interest in a Facebook rant allegedly posted on former Docker Shane Yarran page in late December, which criticised the club’s culture, the coach and its best player Nat Fyfe.

“What I would like to say about Shane is he is young man who’s had an incredibly challenging life, the club gave him an opportunity and he found a way to train hard and create opportunities,” Lyon said..

Harley Bennell didn’t play a game in his first season at Fremantle. Picture: Daniel Wilkins

“It’s alleged (the Facebook posts), but the detail doesn’t interest me because he’s a young man under enormous pressure. He’s experienced the judicial system and prison system for an enormous amount of his life.

“However that’s manifested, I’d prefer to remember Shane for what he contributed to us and how we supported him.”

Lyon disputed the validity of the comments made.

“Does anyone really think any of that is true?’’ he asked

“I treated it with the respect it deserved, it wasn’t on my radar. Anyone who can’t put that in context ... it doesn’t interest me.”

“And I’d like to make this clear, in Shane’s whole time with us and me, he didn’t give me one headache.”

“But the environment outside of football and his ability to stay focused on football is incredibly challenging and in the end unsustainable.’’