“Dan has experienced some soreness in his knee and after meeting with specialists it has been determined he will not play this season,” Geelong’s general manager of football Neil Balme said.
“The reconstruction is progressing well. Part of Dan’s patella tendon was used in the graft and this is the area that is causing the problems. We are looking at the long term here, so there is no point rushing Dan’s return. The focus is ensuring Dan is at his best when he comes back to play.
“Our medical team will continue to work with him on his rehabilitation and remain confident that Dan will be ready for pre-season.”
Menzel ruptured the ACL in his right knee in the 2011 qualifying final win over Hawthorn. He resumed in the VFL in 2012 after rehabbing his reconstructed knee, but ruptured the ACL in his left knee in that return game.
He fought back and played twice in the VFL last season but again suffered a rupture in his left ACL.
Menzel has played 21 games and booted 32 goals since debuting in 2010 against the Western Bulldogs.
