As Dockers management and players come to terms over the latest controversy with troubled recruit Harley Bennell, it has emerged Pearce is headed for a longer recovery from a broken leg than expected.

Further surgery to his broken bone has not been ruled out after scans last week revealed the emerging defender's wound had not healed well.

Another alarming complication for Pearce is a nasty infection in his leg from screws in a plate along the bone intended to assist recovery.

The 21-year-old will now be on a heavy bout of antibiotics for up to a month.

Pearce broke his right leg in just his 21st senior game for the Dockers in round nine last year against Richmond in Perth.

He will be sidelined longer if any further surgery is required, which will severely jeopardise a comeback this year.

While no definite timeframe for a training and playing return has been laid down for the talented defender, it had been anticipated he would probably resume by at least mid-way through the 2017 season.

It is understood he now faces at least a 10-week recovery with his latest medical attention to his leg before any serious resumption of training can be considered.

Pearce was drafted to Fremantle from pick 37 back in 2013 as a long term possible replacement for champion key defender Luke McPharlin, who retired at the end of 2015, and another veteran backman Michael Johnson, who could quit at the end of this season.

Fremantle already has veteran small forward Hayden Ballantyne out of action from surgery to his hamstring tendon until mid-June after the Dockers mid-season round 13 bye.

Bennell, 24, is out of action with his ongoing calf injuries as well as being on club-endorsed leave.

The controversial import was ordered off a Virgin Airlines flight waiting to take off in Melbourne to fly to Gold Coast on Saturday.

Bennell faces what is predicted to be career-defining surgery if he resumes training in around 10 weeks and suffers further setbacks in complications with his injury-ravaged calves.

He has severe scar tissue build up in his right calf and swelling in his tendon low into the lower leg.

He faces an operation to relieve the swollen tendon through surgery and a recovery that would end any hopes of a comeback late this season.

Bennell has been on the Dockers list since November 2015 after he was sacked from Gold Coast following a series of off-field indiscretions.

He has not played a senior game with Fremantle after 81 at the Suns as a top priority second draft selection behind another rising West Australian star David Swallow in 2010.