Daniel Menzel joins Coorong Cats for River Murray Football League season 2024
A former AFL gun and SANFL premiership player has joined an SA country club for season 2024 and believes his new side has what it takes to go all the way.
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A former AFL and SANFL star has joined an SA country club ahead of season 2024 and will don familiar colours as playing-coach.
Daniel Menzel, who played 73 games and booted 136 goals for Geelong before heading to Sydney and then Woodville-West Torrens in the SANFL, has joined the Coorong Cats in the River Murray FL.
The skilled forward/midfield utility won a flag with the Eagles and led the SANFL in goals through 2022 before retiring last season and playing six games for Padthaway in the Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara Football League.
“Playing the six games of country footy at Padthaway gave me a bit of a taste of what it’s like playing in a bit of a more relaxed setting and I loved it,” Menzel said.
“I’ve got an eight-week-old son now as well as a sport consulting business and I think the Cats were a better fit for me with there being less travel time from Adelaide.
“There is an element of that romantic story with the Cats mascot and the team colours too – I’ll be wearing number 10 again like I did with Geelong and my boy will have a number 10 guernsey he’ll wear out to games as well.”
Coorong, among the newest clubs in SA country footy, was one of three merged clubs, alongside Mallee Districts and Southern Mallee, to join the RMFL last season after the disbanding of the Mallee FL.
Menzel said he was excited by the opportunity to coach the Cats and create history at the club.
“The playing-coach aspect was really appealing to me because coaching is something I really want to have a go at,” he said.
“I’ve spent a good bit of time at the club so far and I’m really enjoying it. I really like the connection between the three towns in Meningie, Coonalpyn and Tintinara and I’m excited to help grow that.
“The side made finals last season but I think we can take it a step further in 2024 and compete for a flag in both the A Grade and B Grade – that’s our expectation.”
Menzel will join former Adelaide Crows player Brodie Martin at the Cats as well as a number other local stars such as forward Sam Sanders, who finished second in league goalkicking last season.
He was excited by the list and believed it could achieve big things.
“The list is very exciting,” Menzel said.
“It was a challenge to get that cohesion going last season with the merger happening but I think if we can continue to gel through the pre-season we’re going to be in a great spot.
“There’s a bit of experience there – Brodie is going around again which will be invaluable for me – but we’ve also got a lot of promising young guys coming through.
“There’s a great team off the field with all the volunteers, the board and the footy management side of things too.
“Everyone is pretty heavily invested and I think we’ve got a group which can compete with the best next season.”
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