Geelong says axed forward Daniel Menzel is still a required player for the 2018 season

GEELONG says forward Daniel Menzel is a required player and it is keen to contract him at season’s end, despite dumping him from the club’s finals side.

Geelong says axed forward Daniel Menzel is still a required player. Picture: AAP Images

GEELONG says axed forward Daniel Menzel is a required player and it is keen to contract him at season’s end.

The Cats dropped Menzel for Friday night’s qualifying final against Richmond despite him kicking 38 goals this season.

Menzel, 25, who has rebounded from four knee reconstructions, rejected a modest two-year deal in the hope he could earn a more lucrative contract with strong performances this season.

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There is speculation the Cats will clear salary cap room to make plays for Gary Ablett and Devon Smith. But Geelong head of football Steve Hocking said the club wanted to contract Menzel.

Geelong says axed forward Daniel Menzel is still a required player. Picture: AAP Images

“We are definitely keen and we are in communication with his manager,” Hocking said.

“You can’t downplay the disappointment a player would feel to be missing a final. It is more structure with the way we set up the forward line. It was nothing more sinister.”

It is understood the Cats this week offered Menzel a one-year deal on modest money that could see him move on for a multi-year deal.

Steven Motlop is also an out-of-contract free agent, but Hocking said that despite perceptions it was not the Cats who had deferred talks.

“Steve has postponed them ... we are in constant contact with (manager) Alex McDonald,’’ he said. “There was a strong view from their point of view to leave it until the end of the year.

Travis Cloke will play on at the Western Bulldogs, but Stewart Crameri is likely to be on the move as he has been told he will have to wait until after the trade period for a new deal.

Travis Cloke in action for the Bulldogs. Picture: Michael Klein

Essendon was reported yesterday to be a suitor for the former Don. He would likely leave for the security of a two-year deal. Cloke is keen to honour the second year of a contract worth about $200,000 a season.

Gold Coast will consider all options for contracted key position defender Rory Thompson, who was told he might be traded this year.

Thompson, 26, played only seven mediocre games as he battled a quad strain and multiple hamstring injuries.

The highly-paid tall was seen as likely to emerge as a star, but has stagnated.

Originally published as Geelong says axed forward Daniel Menzel is still a required player for the 2018 season