Up and running: Daniel Menzel will return on Sunday. Picture: Mike Dugdale Source: Geelong Advertiser
DANIEL Menzel will be given a licence to "just play footy" and back his body when he makes his VFL comeback.
Geelong has put no expectations on Menzel's performance, given the significant mental and physical battles he has endured over the past 19 months.
But the 21-year-old will take the field at Simonds Stadium tomorrow confident his reconstructed left knee is as strong as ever.
"Menz is really confident, he's backing his rehab and is probably less anxious now than he was after his first and second knee reconstructions because he's been through the process," VFL captain Troy Selwood said.
"He feels he's as strong as ever. You can't really think about what may or may not happen, you've just got to go out there and play footy and have fun.
"He's relaxed and not putting any pressure on his performance, he's just grateful that he's back out there playing footy again."
Menzel had LARS surgery in December after reinjuring his left knee at training just before Christmas - his third knee reconstruction in just over a year.
The livewire forward ruptured his right anterior cruciate ligament in the 2011 qualifying final and then did the same thing to his left knee in his VFL comeback match last June.
Selwood said Menzel would play most of tomorrow's match, but may start each quarter on the bench.
Daniel Menzel leaves the ground during his comeback match in the VFL with another knee injury. Picture supplied by Arj Giese. Source: Herald Sun
"Once he's out there, we think it's best for his confidence to not restrict him, and to let him go and enjoy it and not really think about it," Selwood said.
When Menzel runs out, his teammates will be riding every bump, ever change of direction and every kick. There was a rousing reception this week when coach Chris Scott told the players Menzel would finally return tomorrow.
"Scotty mentioned early in the week to the boys that Menz was going to be playing," Selwood said.
"It was fantastic, the boys just gave him a big round of applause because they know how much work he has put into it and the mental battle that he's had to face."
Josh Hunt will play his first match of the year after a pre-season ravaged by setbacks. First he had glandular fever, then he succumbed to a nerve problem that attacked his shoulder.
Cameron Guthrie also returns after he injured his calf in the warm-up to Geelong's practice match against Collingwood last month.
Sunday's game against Sandringham starts at 1pm.
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