Geelong forward Daniel Menzel has opened up about the "agony" he suffered after injections for groin soreness didn't do what was intended and left him struggling to walk.
The Cats star had a hot start to the season as he kicked 15 goals in the first five games before reportedly having two cortisone injections which had adverse effects.
"I was OK 24 hours later and about 48 hours later I was in agonising pain where I literally couldnโt walk because every time I moved my joint would move as well," Menzel told theย To the Final Bellย podcast.
"It was agony. I actually remember it was (before) the Sydney game here (at Geelong in round six), the week that I was going to miss anyway, and I was in hospital.
"They put me on morphine, endone and everything else.
"I just remember thinking (as) I walked into the hospital 'I hope there's just no cameras or anything because this looks like I've done something seriously bad'.
"For a good week I couldn't walk properly and couldn't train for a month all up.
"It was frustrating because I knew every week that went by that I couldn't train it would cost me a couple of weeks in reconditioning as well.
"Rapt that I'm now able to actually train and play, but at the same time it was a long 8-10 weeks."
The 26-year-old waas looking at this season as a chance to prove he belongs in the AFL after overcoming four knee reconstructions. Menzel signed a one-year deal and trained successfully throughout the entire preseason.
"I felt like it was the first year I was able to show everyone in the competition and including people at this club what I can actually do," Menzel said.
"To put it together for a year consistently was my goal, so that was the most disappointing thing.
"It was a battle for a month but once I was able to get up and about it was alright 'let's just focus on getting back and not worry too much about what's happened'."
