If you thought it was frustrating for Fremantle Docker Harley Bennell being on the sidelines for the past two years, spare a thought for his mother, Kayleen.
As her son’s number one fan, the local mum has barely stopped crying tears of joy following news Bennell will take to the field for Freo this weekend.
“I’m just so proud,” Kayleen said. “Don’t you make me cry again.”
Referring to Dockers coach Ross Lyon as the “Boss Ross”, Kayleen said she had spent the past couple of days “crying with happiness”.
In a moving tribute to her son, she referred to the star midfielder as a “great Nyoongar warrior”.
WATCH: Kayleen learns her son is to take to the field
“[He] has overcome obstacles and come out on the other side with this great big smile on [his] face,” she said.
“To fight all the battles that [Harley] has and to be standing tall and strong today says it all.”
In a video posted to Facebook by Kayleen’s daughter – and Harley’s sister – Charellett, the tears flow freely on hearing her son had made the cut for the weekend’s match against Richmond.
“I'm very proud and I shall be there on Sunday when he runs out on that footy field in the purple and white with tears of joy,” Kayleen said.
