By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
GEELONG Cats unveiled their four newest recruits this week but encouraging news about injury-plagued forward Daniel Menzel news almost upstaged the event.
Menzel put in a strong showing in the Cats’ two-kilometre time trial, finishing fourth behind Mark Blicavs, Josh Caddy and Josh Walker.
An outpouring of support on social media engulfed Menzel, coming back from his fourth knee reconstruction, after the Cats twitter feed proclaimed the result.
But the main interest centred on former Lion and Demon Mitch Clark who felt strong enough to declare he would be ready for round one next year.
Given number 19, the 200-centimetre ruck and key forward said he wanted to “hopefully cause a few headaches” teaming with Tom Hawkins.
Clark admitted he was “a fair way off where I want to be” but felt the break from football to recover from depression had done him well.
“It was pretty tough time. I’ve still got a bit of stuff I need to work through with ongoing treatment but I’ve learnt so much in the whole process about myself and the people that are close to me that are going through similar things, so I take the positive out of it.
“I’m injury-free at the moment and actually having some time off to give my mind a rest and the body a rest has been really good for me.
“It was the soft-tissue stuff that got me and it’s fair to say the mental state was probably contributing to those as well.
“So I’ve done a fair bit of work on that and I’ll continue to. If I can get myself fit and on the park, I know what I can do.”
Clark said his medical assistance and advice told him he needed to step away from the game before making a comeback attempt.
“I would have loved to go back to Melbourne but unfortunately it couldn’t happen.
“I was told with my situation that a fresh start would be best for me and people know how much I love the Melbourne footy club and how badly I wanted to be there but unfortunately it’s the way it goes.”
Clark said he felt settled in Geelong after marrying and moving into a new home.
Former Saint Rhys Stanley, who will wear number one, said he was looking forward to competing for a spot with the rest of Geelong’s tall timber.
Stanley will compete with Clark and Nathan Vardy, coming back from injury, as well as ruckman Dawson Simpson and Hamish McIntosh.
Ex-Demon speedster Sam Blease was given number 12, while Irish recruit Padraig Lucey, a participant on Foxtel’s reality show The Recruit, will wear 42.
