TROUBLED Fremantle star Harley Bennell is closing in on yet another comeback from his crippling calf problems, after returning to main training at the club’s Cockburn headquarters on Tuesday morning.

Bennell completed nearly all of the 90-minute session before doing some running near the end in front of several hundred fans.

Host club Peel have a bye this weekend, so the alignment derby against East Perth on April 29 at Leederville Oval looms as the earliest potential comeback date for Bennell. That fixture is on the same day as the historic first western derby between Fremantle and West Coast at Optus Stadium.

Fremantle defender Joel Hamling described Bennell’s return to training as “really exciting”.

“Harley’s really bubbly. He’s been out running around today, he’s got great skills and hopefully he’s back in the next few weeks,” Hamling said.

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“He’s come back and he’s bought in and worked hard.”

Midfielder Ed Langdon completed the session after he was a late withdrawal from the side that lost to Greater West Sydney on Saturday with illness.

Langdon, who was a strong contributor in the round three win over Gold Coast with 27 disposals, appears a certain inclusion to face the Western Bulldogs in Saturday night’s Len Hall Game at Optus Stadium.

However Doig medallist Bradley Hill remains in doubt after failing to join the main training group and could miss his third successive match with a knee issue.

Hill did some running with sidelined defender Griffin Logue and had a discussion with high performance manager Jason Weber before leaving the track.

Ruckman Aaron Sandilands completed much of the session with the main group before he did some running with forward Cam McCarthy.

Forwards McCarthy, Matt Taberner, Shane Kersten and David Mundy did not join their teammates in the main group, with out-of-favour veteran Danyle Pearce another onlooker.

Hamling said he had not been troubled by the hard surface at Optus Stadium, after West Coast coach Adam Simpson said he wondered whether it was contributing to injuries.

“I don’t think personally. Some guys with foot problems might get sore feet on the hard deck, but myself it’s fine,” he said.

“It still feels like an oval. I don’t think it feels any different. I guess it could be a bit like Etihad. It might be a touch harder, but I don’t really notice the difference.”