Geelong AFL player Daniel Menzel will no doubt have a few butterflies when he takes the field this weekend for his first game following three serious knee injuries.
Elsewhere around the club, there is also genuine excitement – hoping the 21-year-old’s determination and persistence will finally be rewarded with some luck.
With his star on the rise, Menzel badly injured his right knee in the Cats’ 2011 finals campaign, robbing him of the chance to play in the grand final victory.
He didn’t get through his comeback match in the reserves last June, injuring his other knee and requiring another reconstruction.
Then he damaged the left knee again during training in December, this time opting to have a synthetic graft using LARS surgery, which allows a far speedier recovery.
Now Menzel has been declared a certain starter for the Cats’ reserves in their VFL match against Sandringham at Simonds Stadium on Sunday.
Coach Chris Scott says Menzel’s dedication and commitment to returning to AFL sends a powerful message to his teammates about what hard work can do.
“It’s testament to the work he’s done that everyone’s so excited about what he can bring to our team when he does eventually force his way back into the AFL system,” Scott said on Tuesday.
“He’s an outstanding prospect. The information I get from the experts is that there’s no reason he can’t come back and be the player he was.
“Talent’s overrated. He’s where he is because of the work he’s put in – not because of any God-given talent.”
Scott and medical staff are confident Menzel can return to the sort of form he was in before his initial injury – kicking five goals against Collingwood the week before his knees started plaguing him.
But he has been reassured by his coach that he will be given all the time and patience he needs to get back to full fitness – and can expect several weeks in the VFL until an AFL return is considered.
“I think he’s had a long time to face his football mortality,” Scott said.
“If there’s a bad outcome somewhere along the line, then I think he’ll face that the same way he’s faced this one”.
