Bartel/Menzel

[footscore]

we all know Menzel will be back and pushing for selection RD13-RD15, does this mean we see Bartel move up the ground again or does Menzel head into the backline as he did late last year?

I think Jimmy is loving this new role of pushing forward as it's really highlighting the great assets of his game and it seems as though he's made the move in replacement of Menzel for the time being.
I have no doubt this transition is going to improve because you cannot beat quality and Jimmy marks and kicks with the best of them so 40+ goals is a serious possibility.

If we can have both Bartel and Menzel in the forward line together, it's a formidable mid-sized partnership but it would really put pressure on a couple of other small forwards.

Not a bad dilemma but could this unsettle the team slightly?

 

[Duskfire]

Keep both up there. Ditch Stokes and bring in Menzel (when he is ready.)

 

[manboob]

Solved / thread

 

[rizzo]

Keep both up there. Ditch Stokes and bring in Menzel (when he is ready.)

Well that has us sorted for round 1 2013 then

 

[Senatorguesty]

Keep both up there. Ditch Stokes and bring in Menzel (when he is ready.)

agree.
Ive been a huge supporter of Stokesy for a long time and hes been a VERY good player for us since he started but I just dont know about him anymore. Hes not getting the footy like he did (remember when he got over 30 touches early one year!?) and his goal kicking is shocking right now.
I fear some players have gone past him and when Menz does come back its back to the 2s for the Stoker.

 

[CatsBack2Back]

Stokes seemed lost in the game yesterday he still has the ability to be a really important player in the team but I think he is just out of form.

Menzal is such a dynamic player with so many skills and great finishing skills in the forward half. Bartel is a super player and so versatile but I think his best position is to play in the midfield resting forward.

 

[witsend]

Well that has us sorted for round 1 2013 then

Yep. I will be staggered if Menzel has an impact this year (and excited!).
Hope he can, but I think it's most likely that he will spend quite a while in the magoos to get the confidence back in his body.
Expect him to play a big role this time next year.

 

[Farmer2Goggin]

Stokes seemed lost in the game yesterday he still has the ability to be a really important player in the team but I think he is just out of form.

Menzal is such a dynamic player with so many skills and great finishing skills in the forward half. Bartel is a super player and so versatile but I think his best position is to play in the midfield resting forward.

I think we will see the gradual transitioning of Stokes and Byrnes for the likes of Motlop / Menzel and Duncan. Big advantage of Menzel and Duncan is their aerial ability and accuracy around goal. The pace and running ability of Stokes and Byrnes would be replaced by Motlop and Varcoe , both of whom can add to our midfield rotation.
Lots of options coming through at Catland.

 

[AM]

I wouldn't heighten expectations for Menzel this year. It was a major knee reco and players who have been through it before have suggested it takes more than twelve months to regain full confidence in the knee. He's an exciting prospect though.

 

[Footy Smarts]

I wouldn't be ruling Stokes out too soon. He's had a slowish start to the year but he had a good year last year including a solid GF performance. I thought that showed that he was ready to be a big game player and I think he deserves a bit more of a chance to show his best than 2 games.

 

[The rabbi]

Yep. I will be staggered if Menzel has an impact this year (and excited!).
Hope he can, but I think it's most likely that he will spend quite a while in the magoos to get the confidence back in his body.
Expect him to play a big role this time next year.

Agreed Witsend. As well as fitness and gaining form that would be lost through not playing, he will also have to gain confidence that the knee is up to the stresses that it will undergo during a game.

I think that it may be in the back of his mind for a little while.

 

[Monniehawk]

Agreed Witsend. As well as fitness and gaining form that would be lost through not playing, he will also have to gain confidence that the knee is up to the stresses that it will undergo during a game.

I think that it may be in the back of his mind for a little while.

Having said all that, I was nervous watching SJ getting more and more proppy each quarter.

 

[Senatorguesty]

I agree that we cant expect much if anything at all from Menz this year, and really all this season is for him is to get some run into his legs before a big preseason and bigger 2013 BUT saying that the kid has some serious talent, has the best medical system in the comp and has a good head on his shoulders so I dare say if he can find confidence in the knee theres no reason not to expect him to contribute later in the year.
I think we should be glad that the Cats are in the position where we actually dont need him. If it was Melbourne or some other team I'm sure the inclusion of a young soon-to-be gun would be huge, for the Cats? Meh just another of the handful we have