The delisting of Menzel shows what a bad state our game is in

[frenchconnection]

So we're supposed to feel bad for the guy because he can't put on defensive pressure? That's a massive cop out IMO, and goes to show you can't just be a two-goal a game forward if you're allowing easy entries out of the 50.

It sucks he's lost some of his pace, but like slow outside midfielders or ruckman who can't take marks around the ground, if you can't produce what's expected of you you're not going to last.

Perhaps after all his injuries he may have lost confidence in his body, so could be the reason as why it appears he's now lacking in certain aspects of his game. Just a thought!

 

[Turnover]

Decent player, but started to miss crucial goals and with lack of forward pressure he was delisted. He will get another chance.

 

[BF Tiger]

Bit harsh on the Richmond forwards in the OP.
Riewoldt - AA and Coleman.
Caddy - averaged as many goals as Menzel and did the hard stuff.
Rioli - limited pre-season, one goal and four tackles per game.
Higgins - first year player.
Castagna - similar averages to Rioli.
Butler - see Rioli, Castagna.
Martin - 1.5 goals per game from far less forward minutes than Menzel.

Their talent is sacrificed for the team and lies in how they work together

 

[Quivorir]

Yet north have a spud like Kane Turner on the list still

 

[Jeff76]

Well if he’s still as good as you all say then he’ll get picked up for sure.

 

[Coaster2012]

Geelong making harsh calls on players? Gee, never seen that before.

Talent to burn but not the body. Another team will pick me up for sure.

 

[catstorm]

He's cooked when you need him most at the end of the season, as the year goes on he becomes less and less effective at kicking goals which to be honest is about all he does. He also isn't a great distributor averaging less then a goal assist per game.

2017:
R1-11: 25 goals
R12-PF: 15 goals

2018:
R1-5: 15 goals
R17-EF: 12 goals


Honestly i think Geelong should have kept him but can understand why he was let go.

 

[kickazz]

Decent player, but started to miss crucial goals and with lack of forward pressure he was delisted. He will get another chance.

Yeah good point.

Don't know if it was the botched injection, but his approach for goal went all weird at the end of this year, often trying to kick around the corner for very close, straight shots.

Was such an excellent set shot before that. Perhaps his body is in worse shape than many realise.

 

[Turnover]

Yeah good point.

Don't know if it was the botched injection, but his approach for goal went all weird at the end of this year, often trying to kick around the corner for very close, straight shots.

Was such an excellent set shot before that. Perhaps his body is in worse shape than many realise.

Bloke on the radio likened it to Ian Baker-Finch, bit much but a small fwd who doesn’t convert isn’t very useful. I’d say he would have been on decent coin and the club would have a fair outlook on what his future footy career could be.

 

[Furn2]

Could it be that his lack of defense and ability to bob up and kick goals are related?

Seems to find alot of space which is hard to do in a modern forward 50. Maybe that happens because he's not chasing or tackling.

 

[Candiru]

there’s no room for talent, just really fit players who can run and chase all day.

Jeremy McGovern.

 

[jezzajay]

I don't think he's lost to the game...just Geelong.
I'm confident he will get picked up by another team....surely!

 

[Ricky Vaughn]

He’s 10 times the player Gary Rohan is.

If he can be on an AFL list, surely Menzel could be.

 

[TigerTime_89]

I reckon Gold Coast might pick him up.

 

[AFDogs]

Yet north have a spud like Kane Turner on the list still

Every North supporter I know really likes Kayne Turner?

What have you got against him?

 

[thecatattack]

Yes, like all sports if a player has an overriding deficiency in their game, they'll struggle.

 

[Sir_Loin]

Should’ve taken the one year deal being offered.

No one was giving 2+ based on his injury history, has only got himself to blame there

You make it sound like he didn’t want to play there next year

 

[Power Raid]

could be a handy replacement for soft as watts

 

[kickazz]

Yes, like all sports if a player has an overriding deficiency in their game, they'll struggle.

Not always the case though. Many sports focus on a player's strengths and exploit that. NFL, Rugby for example. Cricket is an excellent example too.
Specialist players make games interesting, and footy is losing the idea of specialist players and moving forward a "total football" kind of sameness.

Quarterbacks don't need to kick well.
Rugby forwards don't need to be fast.
Baseball pitchers don't need to be ambidextrous.

AFL coaching has become a huge exercise in mitigating weakness (and in that I include opposition strength) instead of exploiting strength.

 

[Duskfire]

This.

Geelong's forward line was terrible last year, and it's about to get even worse. Hawkins is now their only good forward, and he will be 31 next year.

Geelong was the 4th highest scoring team last season; goal kicking isn’t their problem, forward defensive pressure is. And that was with Menzel missing a lot of the season.

They should have kept Menzel; I wish they had. But part of that is on a pure emotional level and well coaches can’t really think like that.

 

[Kwality]

Very statistically oriented list management call. Be interesting to see how the Cats travel next season. In particular thier fairly impotent fwd line.

You think his team mates dont share the view on lack of pressure on opposition, the leaving it to someone else?

 

[HTT]

I for one find it rather sad that a player with as much talent as Menzel has gets delisted.

Let’s face it, he is one of the most exciting players with the ball in hand in the competition and was delisted because he doesn’t do what is required of modern day medium to small forwards - tackling and applying pressure.

The Richmond team is a good example of this - a group of forwards who excel at tackling and applying pressure that don’t have a lot of talent.

10-20 years ago Menzel would be an absolute star but these days, there’s no room for talent, just really fit players who can run and chase all day.

I’m sorry

Riewoldt
Lynch
Rioli
Butler
Higgins

Are all supremely talented players. They also bring pressure. But the main thing they have over Menzel, and it can only be put down to terrible luck for Menzel, is the ability to get and stay on the park.

 

[the harry]

Can we blame the coach?

 

[Rod Stroker]

there’s no room for talent, just really fit players who can run and chase all day.

the flip?

There's HUNDREDS of AFL players with talent, who can also run.

 

[Rod Stroker]

He'd be a good depth player at the Saints.

Hope we take a look.

Saints have already ruled him out. As have Blues and Lions. Given they don't want him for zero cost, and he attracted almost zero interest in the trade period, maybe the Cats are making the right decision.
https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/cats-not-offering-a-contract-to-menzel-20181024-p50bq8.html