Cats' Menzel suffers another knee injury

Updated June 02, 2012 22:58:13

Highly-rated Geelong youngster Daniel Menzel is facing another knee reconstruction in another devastating setback to his AFL career.

The 20-year-old forward was making his comeback on Saturday after needing the same surgery last September.

Menzel was playing for Geelong's VFL side at Kardinia Park against North Ballarat when he went down in the third term.

It was costly VFL match for the Cats - Allen Christensen, who was returning from a calf muscle injury, was also taken to hospital when he was concussed in the final term.

Menzel had to be stretchered from the field after his injury.

Cats football manager Neil Balme said the club was 90 per cent sure Menzel had ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.

Menzel suffered the same injury in his right knee during last September's qualifying final against Hawthorn.

He will undergo scans to confirm the injury.

If Menzel needs a reconstruction, his football season is over.

"We're not over-optimistic about it, we'll wait and see what happens," Balme told SEN.

"He's a very young man and they get them right nowadays.

"We have to take the positive view and say that will be good, but right now I think it will be very hard to convince him of that optimistic view of things."

Balme said Menzel had started the game well and kicked a couple of goals.

The Cats football manager said Menzel had made an outstanding play immediately before he was injured.

"I saw him - he went for the ball very quickly and picked up a fabulous half-volley and gave off a handball," Balme said.

"I followed the ball then and the next thing, something was down.

"I haven't seen the replay, but I don't think there was any other player involved - it wasn't someone falling over him.

"He was full pace, half-volley, off the ground, quick give - he was ready to play, don't worry about that."

Menzel continues a rash of ACL ruptures so far this season, which now extends to around a dozen.

It is not uncommon for a footballer to suffer more than one ACL rupture, but it is unusually shocking luck to suffer the same injury in his first comeback game following a knee reconstruction.

"Maybe it says that he has ACLs that are not that strong - or my feeling is he's that powerful, maybe he has to work harder than others," Balme said.

"The whole physics of it, I wonder what that means."

Menzel has played 20 games since his 2010 debut and was enjoying strong form last year before he missed out on Geelong's premiership because of the reconstruction.

Former Cats star Cameron Mooney said if Menzel can return to full fitness for an extended period, he is capable of winning a Brownlow Medal.

AAP

Tags: australian-football-league, sport, geelong-3220, vic, australia

First posted June 02, 2012 22:58:13

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Dogs' Morris suffers recovery setback

Updated May 08, 2012 16:34:09

Western Bulldogs will continue to miss the services of defender Dale Morris after it was revealed he will be out for at least six more weeks after hitting a snag in his recovery from a broken leg.

Morris broke both bones in his right leg when he landed awkwardly in his side's round 21, 2011 clash with Essendon.

The 29-year-old, who earned All-Australian selection in 2008, had surgery on Saturday to stabilise his right fibula after he sustained a stress fracture.

Bulldogs general manager of football James Fantasia said that while Morris is disappointed by the setback, he is determined to return as quickly as possible.

"Dale is a resilient character and will throw himself into his new rehabilitation program like he has over the past few months," he said in a statement.

The Bulldogs sit 13th on the ladder after they fell to Collingwood by 22 points last Friday night in their fourth loss from six rounds.

Tags: australian-football-league, sport, footscray-3011, vic, australia

First posted May 08, 2012 16:34:09

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Embley suffers injury scare

Updated February 03, 2012 23:44:11

West Coast Eagles stalwart Andrew Embley suffered an injury setback at a closed training session on Friday which could sideline him for three to six weeks leading into the new AFL season.

The incident occurred during a match simulation drill at Subiaco Oval, with the 2006 Norm Smith medallist suffering a subluxation of the right shoulder that is likely to keep him out of the preseason cup.

While the injury will be closely monitored in the coming days, it is anticipated Embley will be ready for the start of the season proper.

AAP

Tags: australian-football-league, sport, perth-6000, wa, australia

First posted February 03, 2012 23:44:11

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Brown suffers another knee injury

Posted June 16, 2011 16:02:00

Collingwood premiership defender Nathan Brown has suffered a second knee injury, this time on a training camp in Arizona.

Brown, who suffered a season-ending ruptured anterior cruciate ligament injury earlier in the year, damaged the patella on his other knee during a hike.

There was no further damage to his reconstructed knee.

Brown was one of four Magpies players on the mid-season trip to Arizona.

- AAP

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, collingwood-3066, united-states

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Barlow suffers slight setback

Updated April 14, 2011 13:58:00

Fremantle coach Mark Harvey remains confident Michael Barlow will return this season despite the star midfielder experiencing soreness in the leg he broke last year.

Barlow resumed running duties earlier this year but his playing return will be delayed after feeling recent tenderness in his left leg.

He broke his leg against Port Adelaide in round 14 at Subiaco Oval last season.

The setback is only minor but Harvey says the club's medical staff wants to take a cautious approach to ensure no further damage will be done.

"There's a little bit of tenderness in and around the area, but not the direct area," Harvey said.

"We've just got to monitor it.

"I'd like to be able to say he'll be out on the track next week, but there's just a delay with him at the moment.

"I'd like to give you a date to be honest, but it's just unreasonable at the moment."

Despite Barlow's setback, Harvey says the 23-year-old is still on track to feature this season.

"Michael's determined more than any other player I've seen just to get back and hopefully resemble what he did prior to the injury," Harvey said.

"He's got skinny legs and we just need to keep building up in that area.

"When you have a major injury to a lower leg then there are complications around that coming back."

Harvey says midfielder Garrick Ibbotson is a chance to return from an ankle injury for Sunday's twilight fixture with North Melbourne at Subiaco Oval.

But defender Alex Silvagni is set to spend at least two more weeks on the sidelines as he battles to overcome the effects of a recent stomach illness.

Ruckman Aaron Sandilands, who suffered eye damage last week following an accidental poke from Adelaide's Richard Tambling, is also set to be right to take on the Kangaroos.

- AAP

First posted April 14, 2011 13:37:00

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