Cortisone complications could end Menzel’s season

“He was pretty positive around the place today,” Scott said on AFL360. “He was pushing his case for this week. I think he was joking, but he trained pretty well.

“He didn’t do footy training, but he was moving — running. To put that in context, when he first had this issue flare up, he couldn’t walk.

“Our medical staff have done a power of work with all sorts of experts in this area.

“In terms of sports people, they can only come up with a couple of people who have had a similar sort of issue.

“It is very rare, but that doesn’t necessarily correlate with seriousness.”

Scott said the club was working with “world-leading experts” in a bid to find a solution to Menzel’s problems.

“It’s very difficult to diagnose and it’s exceptionally difficult to treat,” he said.

The luckless forward appeared to be managing groin soreness adequately early in the year. Menzel slotted 15.9 in the first five rounds and the Cats’ scoring has dried up in his absence.

They averaged 96 points a game in the first five rounds and were ranked No.1 for scor- ing once inside 50m.

Since he has been out, they average 70 points a game and are ranked 18th for scoring once inside 50m.

A confidence player, Menzel would need to return to training for several weeks before he could be considered for selection at VFL or AFL level.

Another bout of surgery would put Menzel back in rehabilitation for months and could diminish his appeal to rival clubs as an unrestricted free agent.

Menzel was contracted on well under $200,000 for this season after a lack of interest from other clubs in October.

Scott said after Menzel kicked five goals against St Kilda in Round 4 that his medical history limited him to one-year deals.