GUN SOUTH Australian forward Troy Menzel will miss the final round of the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships with groin soreness.
Menzel kicked 15 goals in SA's first two matches, despite experiencing tightness in his groins, and his presence was sorely missed as Vic Metro defeated the Croweaters by 18 points in the third round in Adelaide.
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Menzel, brother of Geelong's Daniel, is disappointed at missing the majority of the carnival, but is confident the issue won't stop him returning for Central Districts' run to the SANFL finals.
"I played through it, but I just didn't pull up well," Menzel said on Monday.
"Hopefully I can just rest up, get the body right and get back out there for Centrals soon.
"The doc's taken a look at it a couple of times and he's seen some rapid improvement already. I'm seeing him again in a couple of weeks and I might get scanned, but at the moment it's just a bit of tightness.
"The high workload with SA and Centrals has built up and the groins have just had a bit too much. I just need some time to rest."
Vic Metro can take out this year's division one title with a win against Western Australia at Etihad Stadium on Wednesday evening, while South Australia will be trying to keep its hopes alive with a win against Vic Country in the early game.
Despite the setback, Menzel has announced himself as a blue-chip prospect at this year's NAB AFL Draft.
His form for Centrals and South Australia makes him a candidate for the top half of the first round, but clubs will first need to satisfy themselves that the LARS surgery he had as a 16-year-old won't hamper his development.
"It's my non-kicking (right) leg and it's been really good. I haven't had any issues with it since I had the op," Menzel said.
"Recruiters have been a bit curious as to why a 16-year-old would have LARS surgery, but I talked it through with the doc and the club and I was a suitable candidate to give it a go.
"I had a bit more time to strengthen the [tissue around] the LARS, which helped a lot, and I haven't had an issue at all.
"The way I see it I've got as much chance as the next guy to tear [an ACL] again. I don't see it as being a liability at all."
The final round of division two will see the Northern Territory take on Tasmania and Queensland go up against the NSW/ACT Rams on Thursday at Simonds Stadium, with Tasmania set to win the division title if it can notch a win.
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL
