Herald Sun journalist Jon Ralph believes Geelong coach Chris Scott has fallen out of love with goalkicking forward Dan Menzel.
Geelong has not offered the forward a contract for 2018 and is not expected to do so any time soon despite football manager Steve Hocking suggesting the club was in “constant contact” with Menzel’s manager Adam Ramanauskas.
SEN understands there has been no such contact but there are some at the club keen to retain the forward. But without the coach rubber-stamping any deal it’s an unlikely scenario.
“I’m being told that Menzel feels like Chris Scott has fallen out of love with him and because of that he’s in trouble,” Ralph told SEN's Hungry for Sport.
“I get the distinct feeling he (Menzel) feels like he’s in trouble because Chris Scott doesn’t like the way he plays.
“I think the coach is extremely frustrated with Menzel’s total lack of tackling.”
Despite reports to the contrary Menzel is believed to be keen to remain at Geelong but with no offer tabled his management has been forced to look elsewhere.
From 16 matches this season the 25-year-old has kicked 36 goals but laid only 18 tackles. Eight of his 18 tackles came in two matches.
While some have attacked the Cat for his lack of forward pressure, some of the stars of the game are anything but tackling machines.
Essendon’s Joe Daniher (who plays part-time ruck) has laid 28 tackles from 21 matches. GWS star Jon Patton has totalled 23 tackles from 18 games while Bulldog Jake Stringer has tackled an opponent 29 times from his 16 appearances. What they do is kick goals.
Ramanauskas indicated the spectre of Gary Ablett joining the Cats is impacting the club’s list management process. The Cats are also believed to be aggressively chasing GWS pair Devon Smith and Jacob Hopper.
But to acquire players will require some creative accounting given the Cats' salary cap is bursting in the wake of big deals for recruits Patrick Dangerfield, Lachie Henderson and Zach Tuohy.
A recent deal tabled to Jed Bews was said to be "an absolute low-ball" by sources close to emerging defender. A number of clubs have expressed interest in the 23-year-old.
The Cats host GWS at Simonds Stadium on Saturday night in what shapes as the club’s biggest home and away game in a decade.
Victory would secure a home final – most likely against GWS at Simonds Stadium.