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Menzel, Murdoch depart in Cats' AFL cull

3 minute read

Geelong have told Daniel Menzel and Jordan Murdoch that they won't be offered new AFL contracts next season.

DANIEL MENZEL of the Cats celebrates after kicking a goal during the AFL match between the Geelong Cats and the Melbourne Demons at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne, Australia.
DANIEL MENZEL of the Cats celebrates after kicking a goal during the AFL match between the Geelong Cats and the Melbourne Demons at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne, Australia. Picture: Scott Barbour/Getty Images

Sublimely talented but oft-injured forward Daniel Menzel is looking for a new AFL club after Geelong elected not to offer him a new contract.

The Cats announced they will delist Menzel and Jordan Murdoch in a statement released on Wednesday.

Menzel has played 73 AFL games, kicking 136 goals, since his debut in 2010, but has undergone four knee reconstructions.

His hard luck story began in 2011 when he ruptured an anterior cruciate ligament in Geelong's qualifying final win over Hawthorn and missed out on the Cats' premiership triumph.

He didn't play another AFL game until round 22 of the 2015 season after suffering further knee injuries.

Despite his undoubted talent, the club had been unwilling to contract him for any longer than one year at a time due to his extensive injury history.

"Dan's perseverance and resilience to undergo four major knee operations and come back the way he has is a credit to his work ethic and mental toughness," Geelong football chief Simon Lloyd said.

"Everyone at the club wishes Daniel and Jordan well in their future endeavours."

Menzel's wretched luck continued this season when he suffered an adverse reaction to an injection into his groin and missed 10 games after a red-hot start to the premiership campaign.

He was a free agent at the end of the season but didn't attract any offers from rival clubs.

The forward could still be offered a lifeline via one of three delisted player free agency periods that will take place before clubs must finalise their lists at the end of November.

The same applies to Murdoch, who played 108 games after debuting in 2012, booting 73 goals and playing in six finals.

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