Carlton forward Troy Menzel has always wanted the ball in his hands when the game's on the line.
"I guess I've always taken to pressure, I've always kind of enjoyed it," Menzel told AFL.com.au at the Blues' Mt Buller training camp this week.
"So when I am put in those situations I don't really shy away from it, I'd rather take the shot myself."
Playing just his second AFL season last year, Menzel's appetite for big moments soon became evident.
In round six, he kicked the match-winning goal against West Coast at Etihad Stadium.
With the Blues and Eagles locked on 86 points apiece at the 24-minute mark of the final quarter, Menzel gathered a long kick from Marc Murphy on the half-volley, calmly sidestepped Eagle Nic Naitanui and wheeled onto his left foot to split the big sticks from 30m.
In round 10 against Adelaide, Menzel kicked the Blues' only two goals in the first quarter. Both were clinical set shots from tight angles, the first from 40m on the boundary line, the second a banana from 15m.
More tellingly, at the eight-minute mark of the final quarter with the Blues just one point in front, he nailed a set shot from the 50m line.
Menzel also kick-started Carlton's second-half comeback in the round 23 draw against Essendon.
After the Blues had bolted to a 30-point quarter-time lead, the Bombers piled on 10 unanswered goals to lead by 30 points midway through the third term.
Enter Menzel.
After marking on the lead 40m out from goal, he split the middle with his set shot.
It was the first of five straight Carlton goals – Menzel also kicked the fourth, a set shot from 25m on a tricky angle – and sparked the Blues to kick seven of the next eight goals and hit the front midway through the final term.
Troy Menzel booted 26 goals in 2014. (Photo: AFL Photos)
Carlton forward coach Brad Green told AFL.com.au Menzel's shy demeanour off the field camouflaged his strong self-belief.
"At face value you can think he's quiet and shy, but once you get to know him he's a terrific kid, really family orientated, and there's that confidence about him," Green says.
"There's an underbelly that he knows his game and he feels that out on the field is his domain, and that's where he gets his confidence.
"You wouldn't call it white-line fever, but once he gets out on the field he's very confident in the way he plays."
Menzel played 19 games last season and kicked 26.13, building on his injury-disrupted debut season when he was limited to seven senior matches.
The South Australian said his ability to have an impact on games in 2014 had been great for his confidence.
"I set a goal for myself in the (2014) pre-season to try and play as much senior footy as I could consistently, and I was able to do that," Menzel said.
"I guess this gave me more and more confidence each game that I played."
Menzel is eyeing the 2015 season with even more assurance, having enjoyed his first injury-free pre-season at Visy Park.
The forward has been working hard on his fitness since arriving at Carlton after the 2012 national draft, and last season did regular bike sessions in Carlton's altitude room with Green before training.
Having shaken off the groin and hip niggles that disrupted his previous two pre-seasons, Menzel has built a vastly improved fitness base that he hopes will help him push up into Carlton's midfield at some stage in 2015.
Troy Menzel says he enjoys being involved in pressure situations. (Photo: AFL Photos)
Menzel played all his junior football in the midfield and ultimately sees his future there. But as such a dangerous forward, any transition into the midfield may have to wait.
At 187cm, he is strong overhead – he has been doing extra work with ruck coach Matthew Capuano this pre-season to improve his contested marking – and quick, making him an extremely difficult player for opposition backlines to match up on.
Green jokes that he is not going to let Menzel go from his forwards group without a fight.
"He's a mid-forward but he's got class. He's one of those players who only needs a couple of kicks and he can create a goal out of nothing," Green says.
"If you put someone bigger and stronger on him he'll beat them on the ground, if you put someone a little bit smaller on him he can beat them on one on one.
"He's a very good player."
