Troubled Fremantle star Harley Bennell has been caught up in a police investigation, following a physical altercation with a bikie in the crowd at a pre-season match.
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The Age understands that Bennell, when walking back to the crowd from the bathrooms in the JLT 2 clash with West Coast in Mandurah, was accosted by several men, one of whom is a member of the Coffin Cheaters motorcycle gang and is known to police.
The incident became physical and security is said to have stepped in and offered to escort Bennell to his car.
The incident is now being investigated as part of a wider probe by the Western Australia Organised Crime Squad.
The AFL and Fremantle are both aware of the incident and The Age understands the league's integrity unit will form part of the police investigation.
Fremantle provided a brief statement to The Age.
"Neither the club nor the AFL integrity service unit is aware of any investigation into Harley Bennell," a club spokesperson said.
While Bennell is not believed to have done anything wrong in the incident itself, the public run-in with a known outlaw motorycle gang member is yet another off-field incident for the troubled star.
Bennell was in the stands watching in Mandurah following his latest setback in a long list of calf injuries, with the former Gold Coast Sun having hoped this year to play his first AFL game since 2017.
The incident involving Bennell is yet another blow for Fremantle and their coach Ross Lyon, who have this week been forced to defend their handling of recruit Jesse Hogan, who was unable to train last weekend following an alcohol fueled night with friends.
The club says Hogan is dealing with "clinical anxiety".
