GEELONG remains optimistic that Daniel Menzel and Nathan Vardy can have long-term careers at the club.

The two have played just 21 games each for the club after bursting on to the scene and are both making their way back from knee reconstructions.

Menzel has had four knee reconstructions while Vardy injured his knee during last year's pre-season after struggling with hip problems in previous seasons.

Coach Chris Scott was cautious when discussing the progress of the two 23-year-olds but said he didn't need to be too optimistic when watching Menzel train to think "he is a very good chance to have an impact for us next year".

"We're thinking long-term with them," Scott said.

"We're not thinking, let's try to squeeze 30 games out of these two boys and then cast them aside. We're still optimistic they can have five-, eight- or nine-year careers with us."

Scott said Menzel was slightly ahead of Vardy in his rehabilitation but both were making good progress.

He said that after four knee reconstructions it was only sensible that Menzel was realistic.

"It would be a better way of approaching it to assume he is going to have some problems at some stage, and when he confronts those issues we'll all deal with them together."

Meanwhile Scott said the club's recruits had generated excitement on the track but they would take time to adjust to Geelong's style.

He said former Saint Rhys Stanley and ex-Demon Sam Blease had been prepared well at their previous clubs but inevitably would need to find their feet when playing with new teammates.

Scott also laid down the challenge to Blease, who the club recruited as a delisted free agent, saying he was clearly not in Geelong's best 22 at the moment but "there is an opportunity for him to work his way into it."

Recruiting manager Stephen Wells told club members at Monday night's annual general meeting that Mitch Clark was also training well at his new club.