AFTER three senior games in succession for Geelong without thinking about his knee, Daniel Menzel's approach to football has changed.

The Cat has progressed from worrying about off-field hurdles to the everyday on-field challenges of an AFL player, like getting a kick.

Last Saturday night against Port Adelaide, Menzel was solid as he builds towards the standard he knows he is capable of reaching.

He kicked three goals, nine of his 18 disposals were contested possessions, and he laid four tackles. He even attended centre bounces when the Cats' midfield mainstays needed to move forward.

"Mentally, it is a different ball game for me because it has gone from the challenges off-field to the challenges on-field, what I have to do and what I have to bring [each week]," Menzel said.

"I don't think about my knee in a game any more at all."

Menzel occasionally has to remind himself that he has only played five senior games since injuring his knee for the first time in 2011.

Four reconstructions later, and with the headlines that accompanied his 2015 late-season return now behind him, Menzel has set himself to be part of a Cats' finals team once again.

"The most pleasing thing for me is I am training at the moment with pretty much no knee soreness," Menzel said.

"It feels like I have got the bulk of the work in. It's about doing the little things, the one percenters to improve my game."

Menzel remains in weekly contact with the club's medical staff, assessing how he feels, but such is his progress that the knee is often only mentioned in passing.

Menzel doesn't expect to play every game this season, but is keen to push beyond the 15-game tally.

Already this season, the Cats have managed players with Darcy Lang, Corey Enright, Cory Gregson and Lachie Henderson having a week's rest in the past two rounds.

That squad mentality is keeping players fresh and putting pressure on players to perform.

It will also allow Menzel to put his hand up and take a break when and if one is needed.

Also on Wednesday, the Cats announced they had reached 50,000 members for the first time with the addition of Patrick Dangerfield, Zac Smith and the return of players such as Menzel creating renewed excitement around the club.