MENZEL’S 25,000KM BID TO PLAY AGAIN

Bartel believes delisted Cat would work up forward for the Swans

DANIEL Menzel will jet in and out of Sydney next week in a bid to further his AFL career.

The delisted Cat will pay for his own flights from Los Angeles and will complete a medical with the Swans, who have confirmed their interest in Menzel.

Menzel, a sports junkie, has been in the US with a group of former Cats teammates, and after meeting the Swans will fly back to the States.

He attended the opening game one of the World Series between Boston and Los Angeles with Cats best-and-fairest winner Mark Blicavs, days after being informed by the Cats he would be delisted.

Menzel individually spoke to coach Chris Scott, football boss Simon Lloyd and recruiting and list manager Stephen Wells at the time.

Geelong legend Jimmy Bartel yesterday said Menzel would be a good fit for the Swans’ forward line, allowing Lance Franklin to play further up the ground.

“It’s interesting, because Gary Rohan wasn’t good enough for the Swans, but the Cats thought he was good enough,” Bartel said on Macquarie Sports Radio.

“And the Cats don’t think Dan Menzel’s good enough, but (potentially) the Swans think he’s good enough. It’s strange, but they do offer different things. Gary Rohan has more speed but Dan Menzel can kick goals.

“I’m just lining up the facts. Dan Menzel played about 78 games, give or take, but he averages two goals a game. Gary Rohan has played 100 games but averages … about three quarters of a goal a game. They see something in players from other clubs that their current club doesn’t see in them.

“Putting my Sydney hat on here: Dan Menzel could play inside 50 and that allows you to play Buddy and others further up the ground.

“They’d be looking at the fact that (Tom) Papley and (Will) Hayward provide immense forward pressure, so they can almost cover the deficiencies of Menzel.

“But Menzel kicks more goals than what Rohan did — so you’ve already got the defensive pressure but you need some goals on the board.”

Bartel said it made sense for a club to give the delisted free agent a lifeline.

“For Sydney supporters, or other supporters: is Dan Menzel better than your last pick in the draft? Say, pick 80,” Bartel said.

“That’s the question you’ve got to ask if you’re doing your list management.

“Money is not the issue. He’ll get paid more than your (normal) pick 80 in the draft, but he’s about half the wage of the average AFL player.

“There’s only about 20 players … who have kicked as many goals as him in the last three years. And his whole injury issue — he’s averaged 17 games a year in the last three years.”

Menzel’s manager Adam Ramanauskas said last week he had had discussions with ‘’probably five clubs’’ about his client.

‘’I’ve had some good conversations with clubs for the last eight weeks about Dan and how that could potentially look,” Ramanauskas told RSN.

It would appear the Swans are the last club standing.

Asked about Menzel possibly joining the Swans, list boss Kinnear Beatson said: ‘’There’s a possibility.’’

“Daniel is heading back to Melbourne soon and we’ll have a medical done on him and then once we’ve got all the facts we’ll make a decision on which way we’ll go there.”