A POSITIVE assessment by world-renowned knee surgeon Professor Julian Feller has given SA star Troy Menzel a huge boost ahead of this year's NAB AFL Draft.

Menzel, a sublimely talented forward-midfielder, is one of the top prospects in this year's talent pool, but the LARS reconstruction he had on his right knee as a 16-year-old has made it difficult for AFL clubs to accurately assess his rightful place in the draft order. 

Further clouding the issue was his ability to undergo a traditional knee reconstruction if the artificial LARS ligament were to give way, but Menzel said the consultation with Professor Feller provided encouraging news on all fronts.
 
"He said that it's looking really good, it's looking strong, so there were a lot of positives that came out of that - it was good news," Menzel said on Wednesday.

"He said if I did do it again then there is the possibility of having the traditional reconstruction or the LARS again.

"Whatever situation I'm in at the time will be how we decide that, but he said we would definitely be able to do the traditional. 

"It obviously wouldn't be good to do it again, but it is good news that all the options would be open to me.

"I've had other doctors look at it and say that it's looking really strong, but it's nice to hear that from him. He said that it doesn't look like there are any issues or any need for any revisions or anything like that."

The news is a shot in the arm for Menzel, whose talent is deemed by some recruiters as worthy of a top-five pick at the national draft in November.

The 18-year-old also underwent a thorough examination by medical representatives from nearly every club at the NAB AFL Draft Combine at Etihad Stadium on Wednesday morning and, while he was happy with how it went, he knows clubs will form their own opinions on his draftability.

"You never know what club recruiters or doctors are thinking," he said.

"It will be their decision on the day. They've kept their thoughts to themselves - they haven't really given much away - so we'll just have to wait and see, I guess.

"[The LARS] is always a hot topic with clubs, but I've had it for a while now and I haven't had any problems. It's looking really good."

The left-footer suffered a partial tear to the posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee while playing a senior final with Central District in September. That led to speculation of a genetic predisposition to knee problems in the Menzel family, with Troy's brother Daniel suffering two ruptured ACLs with Geelong.

However Menzel's camp is quick to point out that both of Troy's injuries were the result of collisions on the field rather than any pre-existing weaknesses in his joints.

In further positive news, Menzel was happy to report his latest injury was also given the all clear by Professor Feller.
 
"The doc has looked at that today and said that it's not going to be any issue at all in the long term," he said.

"It's getting better every day. I'm walking fine now and I've got a lot more movement in it than I previously did.

"It will heal up fine. I've just got to strengthen my quads a bit and I'll be right."

Jason Phelan covers the NAB AFL Draft for afl.com.au. Follow him on Twitter @AFL_JasonPhelan.