THE last time we checked it’s goals, not tackles, that creates a winning score.

Despite this, Daniel Menzel — the worst pressure player of any general forward in the competition — has been given the boot from Geelong.

It’s a decision that has polarised the AFL community, with Cats champion Jimmy Bartel and St Kilda star Nick Dal Santo dumbfounded by Menzel’s axing.

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Finals Week 1

While the 27-year-old clearly has deficiencies, he’s also averaged two goals per game in his last 104 appearances.

And there are several clubs that would benefit from Menzel’s goalkicking prowess.

These are the contenders.

SYDNEY SWANS

THE Swans’ inability to kick a winning score were hard to shy away from in the club’s humiliating finals loss to the Giants, where they only registered four goals — two in junk time. But one thing Sydney isn’t lacking in its forward line is pressure. The likes of Tom Papley and Ben Ronke chafe opponents. And while it looks like youngsters Will Hayward and Tom McCartin are players of the future, the Swans could do with another mature forward to assist Lance Franklin and Sam Reid (if fit).

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WESTERN BULLDOGS

JUST like the Swans, the Bulldogs possess a plethora of players that are desperate around the ball. But they lack class, particularly up forward, where first-year player Billy Gowers was the leading goal kicker (26). Premiership Hawk Xavier Ellis suggested Menzel was one of “the few medium forwards who make defenders’ arses real twitchy”. And with the Bulldogs the fourth-worst scoring team in the competition in 2018 there’s no doubting they could do with Menzel.

Am I the only member of team Dan Menzel? I reckon one of the few medium forwards who make defenders arse’s real twitchy. Don’t get me wrong he isn’t winning awards but surely worthy of a position on a team - shit even I lasted 11 years. — Xavier Ellis (@XaviEllis18) October 24, 2018

BRISBANE

THE Lions are just a few signings away from becoming a destination club. And while Menzel may not be the name that confirms Brisbane as the most coveted AFL club he would certainly add experience to the Lions’ young forward line. We all know the likes of Eric Hipwood and Cam Rayner are on the road to stardom, but the club could use a more senior head to boost the group’s maturity up forward.

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WEST COAST EAGLES

OUT with Mark LeCras, in with Daniel Menzel? While the recently retired Eagle averaged two more tackles than Menzel in 2018 his output in front of goal, on average, was inferior. And with the likes of Willie Rioli and Liam Ryan wreaking havoc in attack it’s not like the reigning premiers are crying out for a defensive small forward. In fact, at 190cm Menzel would be the perfect bridge between the smalls and power duo of Josh Kennedy and Jack Darling. Scary.

Could Daniel Menzel Shannon Hurn at West Coast? Picture: Colleen Petch Source: News Corp Australia

ADELAIDE

THEY may not be the most obvious candidate, but Adelaide has already been raised as a potential home for Menzel. Indeed, that’s where the forward — who has overcome four knee reconstructions — hails from. The Crows recruited Richmond rookie Tyson Stengle as a future replacement for Eddie Betts, but that may not stop coach Don Pyke from pursuing Menzel, who’ll certainly come cheaply.