Luckless Cat suffers ruptured ACL in just his second game back from previous surgery.
Geelong’s Daniel Menzel looks set to miss the rest of the AFL season after scans confirmed he re-ruptered the same Anterior Cruciate Ligament that was repaired last December.
Menzel was looking to make his return to the top grade and was playing in just his second game back after having LARS surgery to repair his left knee.
However, playing in the Victorian Football League last weekend, Menzel snapped the graft in his left leg leaving the future of his career up in the air.
While a fourth knee reconstruction is the most obvious choice, Geelong’s medical staff said they will exhaust every option for a less obtrusive option to try and extend the 21-year-old’s career.
“Now the trick is we’ve all got to get our heads together and think about the future for Dan’s knee – what’s best for his knee,” Geelong physiotherapist Mike Snelling said.
“We’re going to go through every single possibility we can, leave no stone unturned.
“Hopefully by the end of the week, we’ve made some pretty clear decisions about what we’re going to do.”
“He pivoted on that knee when an opponent tried to get around him.”
Menzel felt a “pop” in his knee after he went to tackle an opponent in a seemingly innocuous challenge but knew he had dome some damage, with the scans revealing the worst possible news.
Despite showing plenty of talent since his debut in 2010, in kicking 32 goals from 21 games, Geelong will be in no hurry to rush Menzel back if he elects to have another reconstruction.
Already the Cats have shown they will again be on of the big contenders for the flag, especially after defeating the premiers Sydney by 21 points at the SCG last round.
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