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Menzel hungry for his chance

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Similar stuff here, but this is an article I wrote
AMID the feel good stories surrounding Geelong players involved in Saturday’s premiership triumph, one young star was plagued by mixed emotions.

Daniel Menzel celebrated his 20th birthday a couple of weeks ago, and on the same day scans revealed the result he was dreading – 12 months on the sidelines thanks to a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).

Menzel had worked hard to establish himself in Geelong’s best 22, and enjoyed a breakout game against Collingwood in round 24, booting five goals in the Cats’ 96-point victory.

But eight days later his world came crashing down around him when his knee crumpled during the early stages of the qualifying final against Hawthorn.

As hard as it was to watch his teammates win the flag without him, Menzel said he took solace in the belief he would have his chance at glory in the years to come.

“Obviously you want to be out there, but at the same time I was just so happy and proud of the boys – it was great for them,” Menzel said.

“It feels like we’re still going to be part of something big.

“We’ve got some great young guys coming through the club at the moment, and they will be around for a while.

“That makes it a bit easier – the fact we should be around the mark for a few years to come.”

Menzel said he feared Steve Johnson had suffered the same fate as himself when the mercurial forward’s knee buckled against West Coast Eagles last week.

“I thought it was definitely an ACL,” he said.

“I was shattered for him – the symptoms looked really similar to mine.

“For him to get up and play the way he did today was a credit to him.

“He is a great footballer, and he’s just amazing to watch.”

The two players’ contrasting fortunes were indicative of the role luck can play in the career of footballers, but while Menzel’s story was one of a broken dream, he wasn’t about to let it spoil the day.

“It’s amazing how easily I did mine,” he said.

“But you can’t dwell on it, because you could do the same thing 100 times and not get hurt.

“For me to have played some good footy this year and get a spot on the team – that will give me some confidence when I come back.

“I’m just looking forward to partying with the boys tonight and then getting back on the ground later next year.”
He seems like a really great kid - very mature.
 
Also posted elsewhere, but here is a pic I took in the rooms

grandfinal2011132.jpg
 

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