Talent has never been in doubt for Daniel Menzel. Following some good years post multiple knee reconstructions, his last season at Geelong was plagued by a groin issue, which was still bothering him in January. Menzel isn’t an immediate walk-up selection anyway, despite slotting 100 goals from his last 50 games as a Cat. Only once in has career has Menzel averaged above 70. He’s a dead-eye finisher who capitalises on every opportunity, and will bolster the Swans’ attack. Unfortunately that doesn’t translate to a fantasy-friendly game style. Pass on Menzel in the draft.
Menzel wishing ton?
Talent has never been in doubt for Daniel Menzel. Following some good years post multiple knee reconstructions, his last season at Geelong was plagued by a groin issue, which was still bothering him in January. Menzel isn’t an immediate walk-up selection anyway, despite slotting 100 goals from his last 50 games as a Cat. Only once in has career has Menzel averaged above 70. He’s a dead-eye finisher who capitalises on every opportunity, and will bolster the Swans’ attack. Unfortunately that doesn’t translate to a fantasy-friendly game style. Pass on Menzel in the draft.
Daniel Menzel may be playing his last game for Geelong tonight, and if so it's because he doesn't have a rounded enough skill set for the modern game. If this was still Malcolm Blight's team then kicking goals would be enough to hold his spot in the 22 from week to week, but even key forwards are expected to chase these days, and his 2018 average of one tackle per match doesn't cut it despite a career-best rate of 2.3 goals per game. He is also just the sort of player who will go missing in a final, as Jack Gunston did last night.
Daniel Menzel made all the headlines for kicking the winning goal after the siren last week to beat Melbourne, but for fantasy coaches he has been a slight disappointment. Perhaps no more could have been expected of him than to hold up his 2017 numbers, but he has dropped a couple of points in both scoring formats and if you picked him preseason as a keeper, you missed out on a bunch of others whose numbers shot up during 2018. In draft leagues, he has delivered equal value to his draft position, which would please his owners.
Denzel's bad training day
Even though Daniel Menzel booted 38 goals last season, his output in non-scoreboard areas of his game was down from his 2016 numbers, summed up by a drop in fantasy score of nine points to replacement-level for forwards. He failed to register double figures in disposals six times, all but one against finalists, which perhaps explained why he was dropped for the first final. Perhaps the key is a solid preseason, something which he has never enjoyed at AFL level, to get rid of lingering soft tissue effects from his three knee reconstructions. Menzel signed a one-year deal after nobody bid on him as a free agent. In fantasy, free agency is probably his fate as coaches there are going to be just as wary of his remaining potential as AFL administrators seem to be.
