Menzel backing Hawks to respond in AFL

Apr 12, 2017 - 5:31 PM Comeback king Daniel Menzel will be nursed through the AFL season but this round's match-up with the Hawks is certainly not one the Geelong forward will be missing.

Menzel will be the most enthusiastic Cat running through the banner as he lines up for a first Easter Monday clash in his eight years on Geelong's list.

"I've watched so many from the sidelines," he said.

"It's fair to say I've been jealous and envious of the boys."

The inspirational forward - who has overcome four knee reconstructions - has started his season from round one for the first time since 2011 but is certain to miss matches at some point as the Cats look to take a pragmatic approach to his injury management.

"I'm not going to play 15 games in a row," he said.

"It's not realistic for me and I had a little chop-out in training today ... we're going to be smart with this.

"When it comes the time that I have to rest, I might not want to but it's going to be the best thing for me.

"Last year, I limped to the finish line and I don't want that to happen again."

Geelong (3-0) enters Monday's match as the strongest favourites they've been over Hawthorn (0-3) in years.

The Hawks look a team in transition off the back of trades that sent Jordan Lewis and Sam Mitchell packing, but Menzel says anyone expecting the Cats to dish out a belting needed a reality check.

"The games over the last seven years have been unbelievably close no matter how the teams are going," he said.

"We've had a pretty good 10 years ourselves and were in a similar boat to them. There have been times where we've been battling.

"We know they're going to bounce back from last week regardless ... I'd be shocked if they didn't.

They're going to bring a lot more than they did on the weekend.

"It's laughable for me to think that its not going to be a contest."

Source: AAP