Ex-Cat backs plan to prevent ACL injuries in kids: Daniel Menzel calls for injury prevention program
Ex-AFL player Daniel Menzel beat the odds, bouncing back from four devastating ACL injuries to play at the highest level. Today, he has a simple message for young players, their parents and coaches.
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There’s not much that ex-AFL player Daniel Menzel doesn’t know about serious knee injuries or the toll – emotional and physical – they take on a young sportsperson.
The SA-born former Geelong Cats and Sydney Swans gifted forward has the unenviable distinction of four ruptured ACLs, the first as an 18-year-old.
Menzel, now back in Adelaide to coach and play for Central Districts in the SANFL, wants to do all he can to educate young players, their parents and coaches on preventive measures.
“I believe there is a massive area for improvement in preventing injuries,” the 28-year-old said.
“Surgeons and physios are starting to learn a lot more about ACL injuries and why they happen, allowing for better measures to be put in place.”
Menzel adheres strictly to an injury prevention plan.
“I do it before every single training session and every single game and have done it basically for the last seven years to ensure I never tear an ACL again.” he said.
Menzel said he can vividly recall each devastating ACL injury.
“It is very difficult because you are out for 40-plus weeks which mentally and physically is extremely difficult,” he said.
“I remember thinking when I had my last surgery, ‘I don’t know how much more of this I can go through’ – mentally and emotionally the drain it has on you is incredible.”
Menzel’s 40-week ACL rehab plan is available to others on his MTMF (Mental Toughness, Mental Fortitude) website and his focus now is on helping others, especially young athletes.
“You don’t want kids to go through this and have issues when they are growing up, to not have the opportunity of playing the sport they love,” he said.
He is backing Adelaide mum-of-three Brigid Piro as she lobbies for the state roll-out of injury prevention education programs at school and grassroots community clubs.
Her AFL-loving eldest son Olly, 17, has endured seven operations over the past five years, since first rupturing his ACL as a 12-year-old.
“The fact is (the number of) children requiring ACL surgery has more than tripled in the past 12 years,” she said.
Olly’s Sportsmed physiotherapist Glenn Dods, too, would like to see more work done in the preventive space at junior levels.
“It is all about education – we hear a lot more about concussion now,” he said.
“This is not a big impost, it is about getting their bodies right and moving right, to really prevent injuries.”
SANFL football general manager Matt Duldig said how injury management protocols were promoted across community football leagues was regularly reviewed but the immediate priority was the safe return to play.
“Any further programs about injury prevention will be something we will consider in the future, in a post COVID-19 environment when our community clubs, their coaches and volunteers, no longer have the challenge of implementing the comprehensive return to play guidelines and hygiene protocols.”
