Create an experience with Daniel Menzel

I am Daniel Menzel, I am a former AFL footballer currently playing in the SANFL for Woodville West Torrens after a coaching and playing stint at Central Districts Football Club in 2020. This follows on from my AFL career at the Sydney Swans and the Geelong Cats in the AFL between 2009 – 2019. 

I played 80 games of AFL Football. In my 21st senior game, a Qualifying final, I ruptured my right ACL which began my run of injuries where I went onto rupture my left ACL a further 3 times. I came back from 4 knee reconstructions and returned successfully to the AFL after 1450 days on the sidelines.

I started a sports consulting business off the back of these experiences - MTMF - Mental Toughness Mental Fortitude - based around helping others improve their resilience and overcome setbacks and adversity in all areas of life.

Throughout my rehabs and setbacks, I would go over and read all these messages which motivated me to keep going and so combined with my drive and will to never give up I knew that I would always make it back. I wanted to feel this motivation and drive everyday through my rehab and although I knew that there would be some really difficult and testing times, I knew that this would help me throughout. I also knew that what I was experiencing was not a normal thing to endure as an athlete and therefore mentally what I have to go through, I would have a real advantage over other footballers when I do get back. I’ve been through so much, I can handle a little bit more and so therefore I knew mentally that I was very strong and was never going to give it away. So I wanted a reminder every minute of everyday that I am strong enough to get through this and along with all the support, I would not be defeated.

I have since presented a number of keynote presentations and various talks to sporting clubs and business organisations on the  information on challenges I experienced and what I found worked for me in negating these. I believe that these translate across various injuries, setbacks and health problems as a lot of the principles are the same in these unfortunate experiences.

The topics I specialise in talking on include overcoming doubt, setbacks, mind games and how to best deal with these issues by using effective communication, goal setting, mental strength building exercises and how to transform your focus from negative to positive. 

As well as this, I have extensive experience in coaching all ages and demographics - kids, mens and womens in AFL, I am a director in a media company and am currently undertaking a Graduate Certificate in Business Administration.

Checkout the award winning documentary I was apart in 2015. It touches on how I overcame my challenges which will hopefully have an impact on others who are battling through setbacks.