GEELONG’S team lists this week will be among the most heavily scrutinised of the season as the football world holds its breath awaiting the return of Daniel Menzel to AFL football.
Ironically, the likelihood is that Menzel will not play any football at all this weekend due to a quirk in the draw.
Geelong’s VFL team plays on Sunday, leaving only a five-day break to its next AFL game, a Friday night fixture against Collingwood at the MCG.
In another twist, fellow injury plagued teammate Nathan Vardy, who returned to the VFL after Menzel, was named for his first AFL game since the 2014 pre-season.
Coach Chris Scott said at his weekly media conference on Wednesday that the match committee was still undecided about selecting Menzel to play against St Kilda on Saturday night at Etihad Stadium.
“One of the things we’re considering is that our VFL team has a game this Sunday and our AFL team plays the following Friday.
“The likelihood of him playing VFL on the Sunday and then his first AFL game next Sunday is very unlikely.”
The decision is all the more difficult as Geelong faces three must-win games to conclude the home and away rounds in order to snare a final eight spot.
Geelong’s final game is against fellow finals contender Adelaide at Simonds Stadium, with the most likely scenario having the winner play finals.
Scott said resting Menzel after six weeks straight in the VFL before setting him for next Friday night’s Collingwood clash was “well and truly one of the options”.
“He’s got a pretty good grounding and maybe freshening up would be the smart thing to do any way.
“In concert with the fact that it’s a really short break, a five-day break, between AFL and VFL games that probably makes that scenario more enticing.”
Scott said Menzel’s progress was “still tracking along really well”.
“Dan’s getting much closer. I’m confident he will play AFL football before the end of the season.
“I’m more confident of that than I’ve ever been.
“The risk we’re guarding against, and we could be accused of being too conservative, is him coming back to a level that he’s not quite prepared for and getting injured again.
“He’s confident in his own abilities and he feels like he’s ready to play. But he’s shared our view that it’s prudent to take our time with his return.
“Our eyes are firmly focussed on the big picture. For him it is that his return to AFL football is successful and he can have a big year next year.”
Scott said the selection quandary came down to “gut feel and coaching intuition”.
