THE MASSIVE scar that runs down the outside of Daniel Menzel's left knee is a graphic reminder of the trauma he has endured during the past two and a bit years.
Menzel's promising career first hit the skids when his right knee gave way in a qualifying final against Hawthorn in September 2011.
It was just his 21st AFL game.
He fought back to full fitness, then tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee while playing for Geelong's VFL team against North Ballarat at Simonds Stadium in June 2012.
Six months later his left knee collapsed again, this time during a pre-season tackling drill.
Menzel secretly underwent LARS surgery, in which a synthetic ligament was used, and set himself for another comeback effort.
But his push to be part of the Cats' tilt at the 2013 premiership ended in disaster when he snapped the LARS graft while playing for their VFL team against Box Hill in late April.
The choice from there was stark: he could give up on his dream of becoming an AFL star or undergo a fourth knee reconstruction.
Menzel wasted no time in choosing the latter option.
However, a simple operation to replace the damaged ligament was not an option this time around.
Instead, his medicos decided he needed to go under the knife twice, starting with an initial bout of surgery in May.
"My first one was a big operation," the 22-year-old told AFL.com.au. "It was the most painful one I've had, simply because they had to take the screws out from the LARS and put bone grafts in.
"It was so swollen, so big, that I couldn't walk properly for about four weeks, whereas after a conventional reconstruction you can pretty much walk after a week."
Daniel Menzel is comforted by Cameron Ling and Josh Hunt after his first serious knee injury. Picture: AFL Media
That first operation left him with the huge scar down the outside of his left knee.
It was deemed that Menzel would have to wait another three months to have his third new anterior cruciate ligament inserted into the joint.
So once the wound had healed and he could walk again, Menzel and his housemate, who is a long-time friend from his younger days in South Australia, headed overseas.
"There wasn't a lot of point in doing rehab, because I was going to get it operated on again and I'd lose it all," he said.
"So the club said I could go away in that time, which worked out perfectly. It's great when you can take some positives out of something so negative.
"I was able to clear my head and go over to Europe with my housemate for seven weeks in June/July and go to the Greek Islands and places like that.
"We went to Wimbledon – to an Andy Murray game. That was pretty intense. And we were in Paris when the Tour de France was on. We had an amazing time."
Menzel returned to Australia in late July. The reconstructive surgery was performed on his knee in early August.
Given his history of previous knee problems, the surgeon decided to try a third type of graft to form his new ligament.
The first reconstruction on his right knee and the first on his left used grafts taken from his hamstring.
The second operation on his left knee was a LARS procedure, but this time around the graft used was a piece of his patella tendon.
"The only change is that I need to strengthen up the area around the patella, where it has previously been all about strengthening up my hamstrings," Menzel said.
Daniel Menzel remains upbeat on his chances of playing for the Cats in 2014. Picture: AFL Media
"But the knee feels really strong. Being the fourth time around, I know exactly how much I can push it. In the past, I've been unsure about how hard I could go.
"Now I know the work is going to be painful, but I can do it and it won't be detrimental to it.
"That probably speeds up the rehab, so it gives me more time to train at the end before I even think about playing."
In recent weeks, Menzel has been gradually stepping up his rehabilitation.
When AFL.com.au caught up with him at Simonds Stadium – a couple of days before he jetted off to the United States to spend a week working with renowned injury expert Bill Knowles – he had just completed another punishing session in the gym.
"I've finished a pretty solid day, so it's tender, I guess," he said. "But I'll go and ice it up.
"I'd be lying if I said that it feels 100 per cent every day. It doesn't. Most days after I train it's pretty sore when I walk home.
"I do notice it most days. But that's the stress that you've got to put on it, so you can put pressure on the muscles and strengthen everything up.
"It's what has to be done. I'm almost used to the pain now. I can take it."
Menzel aims to be back training with his teammates in February, then ready to play again by June.
By that time it will be more than 1000 days since his last AFL appearance.
"It was only two and a bit years ago, but it does feel like it was at least five years ago," he said.
"But I think that when you go through such mentally tough things, it actually matures you. I feel older than what I actually am."
Running out again in an AFL match is the dream that drives Menzel through his daily rehab sessions.
Given all he has been through, and the unlikelihood that his career could survive another major setback, the very thought of playing at the highest level again makes his heart race.
"Obviously, it will be a very nervous time," he said. "I don't actually know how I'll sleep in the week leading up to it.
"But it will be a very exciting time. It will mean a lot more than my first game, no doubt.
"I think about it every day. I've just got to keep ticking the boxes and it will happen."
