INJURY-plagued Fremantle star Harley Bennell is closing in on his latest football comeback at Peel after rejoining main Dockers training on Tuesday.

However, hard-running wingman Bradley Hill will miss a third consecutive match after he failed to take part in the open session.

The Doig medallist, who nearly ruptured his ACL in round two, had a long discussion with high performance manager Jason Weber after completing some running exercises away from the main group.

Hill left the track shortly after speaking to Weber and will be sidelined for Saturday night's clash with the Western Bulldogs at Optus Stadium.

FREMANTLE V BULLDOGS PREVIEW: Can Dockers get back on winning track?

"Bradley’s knee was a near miss for him two weeks ago," Weber told fremantlefc.com.au.

"He’s progressed slowly. He wasn’t able to train with the team this morning so he’ll be another week."

Bennell completed about 75 per cent of the Dockers' 90-minute session as he ramps up his workload following his latest calf setback.

The troubled Docker, who has played just two games in purple after joining Freo at the end of 2015, suffered another soft-tissue problem in mid-February while training at Peel during his club-imposed exile.

But what was supposed to be a three-week rehabilitation has drawn out to a lengthy stint on the sidelines.

The Thunder have a WAFL bye this weekend, and Bennell's comeback could be against West Coast-aligned East Perth on April 29, only hours before the first Western Derby at Optus Stadium.

"Really exciting (he's close to a comeback). Harley's really bubbly, he's been out running today, he has great skills and hopefully he's back in the next few weeks," teammate Joel Hamling said.

"He's come back and bought in and worked hard. You could see that today, he's going really well."

While Hill has been ruled out, he should be back next round, when quick youngster Stefan Giro (medial ligament) is likely to return via Peel.

There were more promising signs at Cockburn with Griffin Logue (foot) and Lee Spurr (knee) back running around the boundary, although both are facing uncertain timeframes to return.

Key forward Matt Taberner was a no-show at training, veteran David Mundy only ran laps before leaving the track early and Aaron Sandilands and Cam McCarthy were also among a number of players on managed programs.

Ed Langdon (illness) trained on Tuesday and should be fit to return against the Dogs.

Tall defender Joel Hamling admitted Freo ran out of legs late in a 31-point loss to Greater Western Sydney last Saturday in Canberra.

"We started off really well in the first three quarters and faded out late," he said.

"You could say with the travel and everything else that was involved the last quarter certainly got us.

"There were definitely a few positives to take out of the game."

Hamling finished sixth in the Doig Medal last year after taking on the big jobs on opposition full-forwards in his first season at Fremantle, but has handed over that role to comeback kid Alex Pearce. 

"I don't mind it. It adds another string to my bow," he said. 

"I play tall and small and help out Alex where I can, so I can drop off and help him out in a big one-on-one contest.

"At times where Alex comes off I play on the big guys, but Alex has had a great start to the year – he's been going really well – so he's embracing that role." 

Hamling missed selection in round one after an interrupted pre-season but the former Bulldogs premiership defender has re-established himself and is keen for a rematch with his ex-teammates. 

"With 44 fit guys in round one, no one really is guaranteed a spot," Hamling said. 

"I thought I had a good pre-season, but I was just underdone. 

"I was a bit upset because I'm coming up to my 50th game and that would be against the Bulldogs, but it's next week in the derby."