AFL blocks Cam McCarthy from acting as a runner with WAFL club South Fremantle

CAM McCarthy has been blocked from acting as a runner in the WAFL in the latest bizarre turn in his stand-off with Greater Western Sydney.

Cam McCarthy trains with South Fremantle last month. Picture: Getty Images

CAM McCarthy has been blocked from acting as a runner in the WAFL in the latest bizarre turn in his stand-off with Greater Western Sydney.

The AFL this month rejected McCarthy’s request to deliver messages for South Fremantle, ruling that AFL-listed players can’t go on the field on match days while not playing.

The 21-year-old is clear to continue training with the second-tier club after being granted indefinite leave by the Giants in January.

McCarthy walked out on GWS after being struck down with an adjustment disorder that causes anxiety. He is contracted until the end of 2017, but doesn’t want to play for GWS again and is prepared to sit out two years of football if needed.

But it’s believed Fremantle and GWS are prepared to work a trade for the goalkicker in this year’s exchange period, 12 months after the Giants rejected the Dockers’ offer of two first-round picks for him.

McCarthy returned to his native Western Australia in April and started training with South Fremantle.

He receives regular medical advice, but is said to be in a good place surrounded by familiar faces.

He felt working as a runner for South Fremantle would have been perfect for his mental and physical recovery, giving him 10km a week and a sense of belonging before an AFL return.

McCarthy playing with the Giants last season. Picture: Getty Images

West Coast has made inquiries with a view to entering negotiations for McCarthy’s services, but the forward is determined to force his way to Fremantle.

Meanwhile, the Dockers will next week send Harley Bennell to the Australian Institute of Sport to try to get to the bottom of the calf problems that have wrecked his season.

The Dockers took the unusual step of releasing the scans of Bennell’s torn calf muscle to extinguish rumours a sinister off-field issue was behind his long absence.

“There is no mystery. Harley has had a calf injury. A significant one, and he has had a relapse. There is no mystery unless you want to attack it from a mischievous point of view,” Dockers coach Ross Lyon said last week.

It’s believed Bennell will spend a week in Canberra consulting a specialist.

Melbourne forward Chris Dawes and Geelong spearhead Mitch Clark are among other footballers who have gone to the AIS for injury assessments in recent years.

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