GEELONG forward Daniel Menzel believes Alex Johnson's first game in 2136 days has come at the perfect time for the "fraternity" of AFL players with multiple knee reconstructions.

Menzel, who ruptured four ACLs between 2011 and 2013, said he had reached out to Johnson ahead of his return for Sydney against Collingwood on Saturday night.

The pair caught up regularly throughout their recoveries, Menzel confident Johnson's comeback from five reconstructions would give hope to players enduring similar pain.

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Matt Scharenberg this week joined Jonathon Patton in having their third ACLs confirmed, while Clay Smith retired in July after a career hampered by knee setbacks.

"For the little fraternity it hasn't been a great month," Menzel told AFL.com.au. 

"To have a real positive like this is so good because it does show there's the good that comes with the bad.

"We definitely help each other because it's such a long, lonely period, it does make a difference when people get around you.

The Cats forward said he would give Scharenberg space before reaching out, having spoken to Patton and Smith in recent weeks.

Speaking from experience, Menzel said Johnson would have a range of different emotions ahead of his return.

"I did message him before, I won't try and give him a call just yet, he'll have hundreds of messages on his phone right now with family and a lot of people to talk to," he said.

"No doubt he'll read some of them, but it'll be probably a little bit overwhelming.

"He's going to be nervous and excited, whether he tries to shut everything out or tries to take everything in."

Menzel said he and Johnson both questioned whether they would return to play AFL but was over the moon when alerted to the news on Wednesday.

"When I found out today, instantly it just makes you smile. It's been such a long and arduous journey," he said.

"You feel part of their journey and watch closely with interest. It makes me picture back to my comeback game and the feeling and emotion towards that and how much work you've put in.

"We've spoken over the past few years in particular and wondered whether this day would come, and I'd thought about it a few times this year.

"For it to be actually this weekend is just incredible."

After taking on Richmond on Friday night, Menzel said he couldn't wait to cheer Johnson's first game back from the couch on Saturday night.