Crows wait on medical with Carlton goalsneak Troy Menzel before closing AFL trade books

TROY Menzel could be the last piece of Adelaide’s busy AFL trade plans — if the Carlton goalsneak passes a medical.

TROY Menzel could be the last piece of Adelaide’s busy AFL trade plans — if the Carlton goalsneak passes a medical.

Menzel, 21 and a first-round draftee from Central District in 2012, is back in Adelaide after a holiday in Bali needing to convince the Crows he is physically sound after recent hip surgery.

If the Adelaide medicos approve, the contracted Menzel would be part of a homecoming trade that sends uncontracted Crows midfielder Sam Kerridge to Carlton — along with Adelaide’s second-round No. 28 draft pick.

If Adelaide baulks, Kerridge is still expected to return to Victoria with Carlton’s offer of a three-year contract not to be matched by the Crows. He could command a future second-round draft pick the Blues who have traded their third-round picks in next month’s national AFL draft in Adelaide.

Menzel, the No. 11 pick in 2012, has played 40 AFL games in three seasons at Princes Park where he has drawn varied reviews — and criticism for not making the most of his potential. His move to West Lakes would put him in competition with former Carlton team-mate Eddie Betts and Charlie Cameron as opportunist forwards — and allow new coach Don Pyke to prepare Cameron and Menzel as extra options for midfield rotations.

Menzel’s manager Adam Ramanauskas yesterday insisted his client was physically sound — and mentally motivated to make his mark in the AFL.

“Obviously, he hasn’t performed the way he’s wanted to at this stage,” Ramanauskas said on AFL Trade Radio. “But he’s had some hip surgery over the break and he’s ready to go for (a) big year.”

As Menzel was returning from Bali, so was Kerridge to measure where he should continue his AFL career after 27 games in four seasons at West Lakes — just one this season when the goalscoring midfielder managed just one match while being cursed by an ankle injury.

Adelaide football chief David Noble yesterday confirmed the Crows would not stand in the way of Kerridge taking up Carlton’s offer.

“Carlton are keen,” Noble said while adding Adelaide list manager Justin Reid had a contract offer to the 22-year-old Kerridge before the season ended last month.

“They’ve offered him a longer-term deal — and we respect Sam’s opportunity to look elsewhere. Should he decided to stay, we’d love to keep him. There’s no issue there.”

The Menzel-Kerridge option would close Adelaide’s trade mission to restock its player list after losing club champion Patrick Dangerfield to Geelong.

The Crows already have added to their senior list untried Geelong midfielder Dean Gore, Anzac Medallist Paul Seedsman from Collingwood and Greater Western Sydney running defender Curtly Hampton.

Adelaide will upgrade defender Jake Kelly before the draft on November 24 and have picks Nos. 9 and 13. If there is a third pick — in the second round at No. 28 — will depend on talks between the Blues and Crows leading up to Thursday’s 1.30pm trade deadline.

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