Daniel Menzel finally injury free and ready to shine for Central District in SANFL
Years of frustration with injury are set to be cast aside as Daniel Menzel hopes his return to Central District will inspire another opportunity in the AFL.
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Central District’s long-serving chief executive Kris Grant was puzzled why the grandstand lights were still shining brightly after he walked out of a meeting in the nearby clubrooms last week.
It was just after 10pm. Grant was surprised to find Daniel Menzel in the changerooms following a solo gym workout, having already had his first training session in his return to the Bulldogs.
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This was nothing out of the ordinary for Menzel, for 10 years such commitment was his requirement as an AFL footballer with Geelong and Sydney.
Maybe what was a little unusual for Menzel though was how well his body felt. And he is taking advantage of being able to train, finally free from the pain and discomfort he had endured in a career frustrated by four knee reconstructions.
“My body has never felt better in my life, it’s feeling as good as it can,” said Menzel.
The extra work is ample evidence of just how serious is Menzel’s mindset approaching his first SANFL season since being drafted by the Cats in 2009.
“Absolutely, the AFL these days has so many avenues to it,” he said. “The mid-season draft is one and that is definitely a carrot there for sure.
“I’m well aware if I can get my body right and play consistent footy it can show everyone I don’t have those lingering issues with the groin and knees, and that will be massive.
“I’ve never really felt like this, had my body back me up and give me the best chance to play my best footy. I still have ambitions to continue my AFL career because I have that belief in my body.
“I still have the highest expectations and things I want to achieve. I’ve played 80 AFL games and come back from four knee reconstructions and my family and friends tell me I should be proud of what I have achieved.
“But I live in the moment a little, and because I am pretty driven, you look at what you can achieve and haven’t, rather than what you have.”
Menzel was dealt his first massive blow when he ruptured the ACL in the 2011 qualifying final, having used 18 games that season to show off his incredible depth of talent. Three weeks later, the Cats claimed premiership glory and it would take plenty of time before the then 19-year old recovered mentally.
That was just his 21st AFL appearance. There would be 1450 more days, and battles with depression, and three more knee reconstructions before he made his 22nd. While his physical woes were a regular hurdle, it was the constant talk of his knees and questions on his health which tested his mind.
At no stage did he contemplate quitting. Watching the Cats triumph in the 2011 grand final was bittersweet and he admits “hard to handle”. However, it became a key driving factor, that desire to taste premiership success.
“I spent so much time on the sidelines, for me it was four years, watching your teammates train and play and you always wonder if you will be back out there,” Menzel said.
“If I gave it away and didn’t give it a chance, I’d always wonder if I could have made it back. That is something I did not want to do.
“One of my favourite quotes is ‘pain is temporary, it may last a minute, hour, week or go on for nearly four years. If you quit it lasts forever’. I always had that belief I could get back and I had a strong support network around me with family and friends.”
Menzel was forced to endure four years on the sidelines with rehab his constant companion. The anger, distress and torment inspired his decision to start a business in 2015, the year he returned to action after his fourth knee surgery.
MTMF, or Mental Toughness Mental Fortitude, is an online site offering support for people struck down by ACL injuries. Menzel wrote his ACL recovery plan which is broken down into monthly blocks and provides guidance on what to expect with the rehab, what exercises are necessary and mental support.
Initially, he was hopeful of interaction with up to 1000 people in the first few years. He has had more than 4000 contact him, including plenty from overseas.
“At Geelong, I had physios, welfare managers, coaches, psychologists and it was still difficult to overcome the injury,” Menzel said. “But look at country netballers, footballers and they see the physio every two weeks.
“The rest of the time they are on their own.”
Playing with his brother Troy at the Bulldogs was a “no-brainer” after being delisted by the Swans following one season and seven games.
They have yet to take the field together, although they have been opponents on the AFL stage. Troy played 44 games for Carlton and Adelaide and will have his second season at the Bulldogs after returning to the club.
Ask Grant to compare the pair and he responds: “Chalk and cheese.”
He describes Daniel as being more serious, while claiming Troy has teamed up with Justin Hoskin to be the team pests.
Daniel admits there is a difference in how he goes about his business compared to Troy, maybe because of the football trip he has endured and the years of rehab.
“Granty is not too off there,” Troy says with a laugh. “I’m probably more laid back, he takes it a bit more serious than me.
“I don’t think I’m a pest, but some people might think that. Hoskin is the biggest pest going around.”
Troy was named best on ground for Tea Tree Gully in its Adelaide Footy League division one grand final triumph in 2018, before rejoining the club from which he was drafted in 2012.
The highly talented forward “loved it”, describing the season as very enjoyable despite not achieving the desired results.
What he didn’t enjoy was being a spectator to Daniel’s challenging ride with his sibling continually forced to fight back from horror setbacks.
“It was tough for the whole family to see him go through that,” Troy said. “It took it out of everyone.
“Personally, I felt guilty, I was able to play and he was struck on the sidelines. It’s exciting to see him back at the Bulldogs and someone with his experience coming to the club is massive.
“We are quite similar players and it will be interesting to see how we get along on the field.”