HIS TEAMMATES might be focussing in on this year's finals series, but luckless Geelong youngster Daniel Menzel has set his sights on being part of the September action next season.
 
Menzel last week had the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee reconstructed for the third time, which made it four knee reconstructions in all.
 
"I'm really happy with how it went," Menzel, ever the optimist, told CatsTV on Tuesday afternoon. "It's pulled up really well.
 
"It's probably the best op I've had pain-wise, and we've got a bit of bend in it now, too.
 
"Got a long 10 months ahead, I guess, but we'll work closely together with the physios and fitness staff and coaches, and hopefully be back next year."
 
Menzel suffered his fourth serious knee injury when he snapped the LARS graft in his left knee while playing for the Cats' VFL team against Box Hill in late April.
 
The 21-year-old had surgery to stabilise the joint, which included a bone graft, in early May.
 
After a period of rehab, he then headed overseas for a holiday, before returning for last week's operation.
 
"This time they used a patella tendon … the middle third of the tendon from just below his kneecap," Geelong physio Mike Snelling explained. "They used that as the graft to repair his ACL.
 
"He has very little pain at the moment, so that all bodes well for his future.
 
"The surgeon said everything looked great, so all his joint surfaces were pristine.
 
"There's nothing to suggest that he can't make a full recovery and be back playing at some point, hopefully in the latter half of next season,” Snelling said.
 
"There is some inhibition in his joint because it’s been aggravated so many times from the surgery, but I don’t think we slow down the rehab terribly much compared to his previous rehabs."
 
Menzel is about to start a familiar journey, which will involve countless hours in the rehab group while he strengthens his leg and dreams about the day when he finally returns to the field.
 
"When you've got any long-term injury, the number one thing you have to do is have short-term goals, so you've got to take it a week at a time," he said.
 
"When you're looking ahead, (your comeback date) is so far away, and it's so hard to keep motivated.
 
"But I'm as motivated and determined as ever to come back and hopefully be a part of finals in 2014."