Highly-rated Fremantle youngster Harley Balic is set to ask for a trade back to Victoria at the end of this season.

Barring a significant shift in thinking, it is understood the 20-year-old will be advised to seek a switch of clubs after just two seasons at the Dockers to allow him to return permanently to his home State.

Balic has no immediate plans to come back to WA before the end of this season, with just five AFL home-and-away rounds left and Fremantle destined to miss finals for a second straight year.

He will continue his injury rehabilitation surrounded by family before an expected move to find a new football home during this year’s trade period in October.

The Sandringham Dragons product sustained a hamstring tear at training a fortnight ago.

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Fremantle subsequently granted Balic indefinite leave for the second time this year to reunite with family on the back of the setback.

The decision will rule him out of any part in Peel Thunder’s WAFL finals campaign.

Balic has been dealing with personal issues that Fremantle have been reluctant to discuss publicly in the interests of the footballer’s wellbeing.

The Weekend West can reveal that Dockers teammate Harley Bennell has been a significant figure in Balic’s life over the past 12 months.

Play Video He's back on the park and best of all for Dockers fans, he didn't get injured. The West Australian Video He's back on the park and best of all for Dockers fans, he didn't get injured.

The pair bonded last year while both going through an extensive rehabilitation phase together at the Dockers.

Bennell was at the time still in the early stages of battling to overcome chronic calf issues, while Balic was recuperating from multiple wrist operations.

Balic has been living with 24-year-old Bennell since at least Christmas after initially moving in with a host family when he first relocated to WA at the end of 2015.

Sources close to the Dockers youngster said Bennell had been a positive influence and played an important leadership role with his teammate.

Balic, who broke through for four AFL appearances early this season, is likely to have suitors in the Eastern States.

Originally rated a first-round draft pick by recruiters, the on-baller has now proven he has overcome the serious scaphoid injury that held up his development for 12 months.

Fremantle coach Ross Lyon meanwhile said Bennell would play the rest of this season purely as a forward as the 2010 No.2 draft pick continues his comeback from injury.

Bennell is earmarked to play a third successive WAFL match for Peel Thunder against Swan Districts at Steel Blue Oval this afternoon.

“He’s really glowing a bit,” Lyon said.

“He feels good, but underneath that there’s that risk profile. He’ll continue to build and build and hopefully get to a point where we can select him for the AFL, but that’s a few weeks in hand yet.

“I wouldn’t have thought so that there’d be midfield work for Harley at any level this year. It’s just not feasible.”