Daniel Menzel will be a star

[Selective Retention]

They gave him WOG on triple M.....

That contest with Swan was basically the pivotal contest in the match. I thought outside of that he was a little down. Disappointed both he and Duncan missed some shots early, they've caught the goal kicking disease from the rest of them

 

[speaknoevil]

He was recruited partly because of his efforts on the half-back line for SA in under the 18's, so versatility is key. Great interception killed off Vic Metro late charge with only minutes left on the clock. Would hate to see those possibilities taken away by a permanent spot on the full forward line.

His positioning is very good so personally I'd rather see him as a game changer further down the park - starting moves rather than finish-off other people's work.

Damon, maybe there are some similarities, but at the same time, Menzel's been taking one-on-one marks - body to body against some big and experienced quality players in his first handful of games. Even now, unfortunately, Gamble is still being pushed around like a schoolboy. If he can't go over the pack his ability is largely diminished, and despite his size, he was never particularly inspirational at ground level. I think he is/was much more limited than Menzel, doesn't possess his core strength (one on one marking or contesting ability) or positioning, and certainly wasn't recruited for his defensive abilities, despite what they may have tried with him in the VFL late in his Geelong career.

 

[happy_punter]

just another ****in ehhhhhhhh, menzels good

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Was beaten at times tonight but showed some great signs too.

Will be a really good player.

 

[Turbocat]

Its the little things , that I love in this kid.

The way he played after a media article on him. The way last night he was at the front of the group when coming onto the ground. The way he wanted the ball after the deliberate OOB. He is potentially a goto guy , a player happy to be the man in the heat of the battle , on the big stage.

His skills are high echelon , watching the way he kicked ( the first point last night ) just loved the way he held the ball , not high or low , he kicks balanced , and more often than not his misses are small misses. They are already asking a bit too much of him being the one out marking option when we are playing a forward short.

Put strength on him , put games into him and he could be anything .He has the marking , the finishing and the attitude to be a fantastic key forward. He has the skill set to be at home in the midfield. The only thing he lack is blistering pace but he is certainly not slow.

He should be nominated soon. Pick 17 suck it up other clubs.

 

[David the Cat]

Its the little things , that I love in this kid.

The way he played after a media article on him. The way last night he was at the front of the group when coming onto the ground. The way he wanted the ball after the deliberate OOB. He is potentially a goto guy , a player happy to be the man in the heat of the battle , on the big stage.

His skills are high echelon , watching the way he kicked ( the first point last night ) just loved the way he held the ball , not high or low , he kicks balanced , and more often than not his misses are small misses. They are already asking a bit too much of him being the one out marking option when we are playing a forward short.

Put strength on him , put games into him and he could be anything .He has the marking , the finishing and the attitude to be a fantastic key forward. He has the skill set to be at home in the midfield. The only thing he lack is blistering pace but he is certainly not slow.

He should be nominated soon. Pick 17 suck it up other clubs.

Of course, you'e absolutely right Turbo....great post.

I admired his resilience tonight. He was given a bit of a hiding for a while there by a very good Heath Shaw, but Scott demonstrated his faith by moving him into defence to break Shaw's hold on him...and then.....the Swan moment....a defining moment of the game.

IT takes a fair bit of self belief to go to someone like Dane Swan ( after being well beaten at times by Shaw ) and take him on......this boy is going to be good alright.

 

[GARY JNR]

I never thought a kid who'd played 10-12 matches could so quickly become my favourite player. Well, close to anyway.

As we all know, this kid has something about him.

Yes, he moves and kicks like Stevie J but he's got the ability to jump (as we saw last night) and he's just so super clean - not only marking but below his knees. He's also deceptively big, which makes him a tough match up.

Whoever likened him to Ryan Gamble? Wot the? You can see already that he's likely to have achieved far more than Vegas by the end of this year, and that's no disrespect to Vegas.

Sensational pick by Wellsy ... when we picked a half-back flanker from SA with our first pick a coupla years back I was a bit, 'huh?', but Wellsy's done it yet again.

Hope Balmey and Cooky are all over his contract status. GWS - stay the f*** away.

 

[vinum coupe]

I've never seen Swan beaten so easily in a 1v1.

This is what I said last week

"Re: Menzel. When he took the mark I thought 'the bugger is strong'
Then I thought about what he could be. He is stronger than SJ and Bartel already.
Can he match Chappy? and develop a tank? God I hope so.
But I'm a bit worried he likes champagne footy."

 

[maryjames]

They gave him WOG on triple M.....

You serious?

 

[The rabbi]

This is what I said last week

But I'm a bit worried he likes champagne footy."

And I said something along these lines last week:

And I seriously wonder if his attempts to take the big high marks when the ball is kicked long into the forward line, are not because he "likes champagne footy", but because he is under instruction from the coach to do so.

And my suspicions about Menzel's role were not quelled after Friday night.

 

[David the Cat]

And I said something along these lines last week:

And I seriously wonder if his attempts to take the big high marks when the ball is kicked long into the forward line, are not because he "likes champagne footy", but because he is under instruction from the coach to do so.

And my suspicions about Menzel's role were not quelled after Friday night.

Frankly I rather like " champagne football".........and spot on rabbi....I am sure Scott would tell the kid to go for it at this stage of his career. What better way to build self-belief than giving a young kid his head. Modifications can be brought on gradually...

Menzel could be anything,

 

[vinum coupe]

And I said something along these lines last week:

And I seriously wonder if his attempts to take the big high marks when the ball is kicked long into the forward line, are not because he "likes champagne footy", but because he is under instruction from the coach to do so.

And my suspicions about Menzel's role were not quelled after Friday night.

Yep you are correct. And my post / referenced post was about his strength.
I should have cut the champagne footy bit out as I knew someone would use it.
But I thought putting up an entire post was more honest. Stupid me. Still think he loves himself a bit though

 

[Redemptionin09]

I genuinely believe Menzel and Duncan for the most part are encouraged to play with the freedom and youthful exuberance they clearly possess, the coaches and team knows that these boys will make good decisions more often than not, so they trust in them to do so when the heat is on.

I think it's safe to say the club needed an injection of class and dare as at times last year they appeared stagnant.

The steady introduction of Menzel, Duncan, T. Hunt and Bundy has provided the team with the much welcome boost and to be totally honest I attribute the team's current form to the ability of the youngsters to step up and be counted.

We already knew what we were going to get from most of the guys in the squad, these kids have given the club a real extra spark with their willingness to be involved and make an impact.

 

[David the Cat]

is it my imagination, or is Menzel a bit of a 4th quarter specialist as well....seems when the game is on the line..Menzel steps up.

 

[vivien]

Great player. Geelong has great young players as well as Mitch Duncan.

 

[animalrocks]

Yes....agree with this.......hopefully he remains a Cat for life if not some time to come!

 

[animalrocks]

is it my imagination, or is Menzel a bit of a 4th quarter specialist as well....seems when the game is on the line..Menzel steps up.

He seems to be there right the way through, most certainly there when needed. Very promising. Really looked at he and SJ on Friday......for the comparisons and differences. Or same qualities and those that separate.

 

[winty]

He hasn't played in a losing side yet either!

 

[Cheshire Cat]

Does all the right things when he has it. Very good signs.

 

[Farmer2Goggin]

Loved the way he out bodied Swan in the last quarter , showed maturity beyond his years. Bundy and Duncan also impressed on the big stage.
Got to love this team - just when I thought we might need a mini re- build and scrape into the 8 , we end up with a rejuvenated line up of senior guys backed by talented youth ! Contrast this against what the Saints are going through and it really underscores how professional we have become.

 

[maxy87]

Yep you are correct. And my post / referenced post was about his strength.
I should have cut the champagne footy bit out as I knew someone would use it.
But I thought putting up an entire post was more honest. Stupid me. Still think he loves himself a bit though

He seems fairly measured when interviewed. Besides, it's a good thing to have the confidence to back yourself to do flashy things from the get-go. We have a certain CHF/Ruck in our current side by the name of Hawkins who could use some of Menzels confidence at times.

It's also worth noting that Menzel comes from a very elite environment. Central districts have won 8 of the last Grand Finals in the SANFL and have a very dominant culture based on massive self belief. I daresay some of that may have rubbed off on him. His junior club Golden Grove is also renown for fielding strong teams as well. They breed them tough and talented in Adelaides northern suburbs.

Anyone with the confidence to go one on one with Dane Swan and win the contest at 19 years of age gets a tick in my book. Not that I'm comparing the two in any way but I remember watching Gary Abletts second or third match at AAMI in 2002 where he beat Andrew McLeod in a one on one. From that point I new the bloke would be pretty special

 

[Partridge]

Anyone with the confidence to go one on one with Dane Swan and win the contest at 19 years of age gets a tick in my book. Not that I'm comparing the two in any way but I remember watching Gary Abletts second or third match at AAMI in 2002 where he beat Andrew McLeod in a one on one. From that point I new the bloke would be pretty special

Menzel looks terrific, no doubt at all. It should be noted though he did have a quiet game Friday night. That contest with Swan was pretty much the first contest he won all night, as Shaw earlier took the honours quite clearly.

All good for him though, he would have learnt a lot last week, and will only get better.

 

[David the Cat]

Menzel looks terrific, no doubt at all. It should be noted though he did have a quiet game Friday night. That contest with Swan was pretty much the first contest he won all night, as Shaw earlier took the honours quite clearly.

All good for him though, he would have learnt a lot last week, and will only get better.

Yes, he was touched up by Shaw, no doubt about it. He will learn from that...it's no disgrace to be beaten by Shaw.

Scott moving him into defence was a great move....leading to " the Swan moment" ...the defining moment of the game.

Menzel looks the goods though..no doubt about that.