When Brandan Parfitt reflects on his 2019 season, he feels he wasn’t as consistent as he would have liked.
“Personally, I think I have just been a little bit inconsistent for my liking,” Parfitt said.
“I wish I would have played a little bit better during the 2019 season. I had a few niggles throughout, and I probably didn’t train as much as I would have liked.”
Despite not quite having the influence on games he had hoped, Parfitt demonstrated just why he is one of several young Cats who look set to play an integral role for Geelong in the coming years.
In the 20 games he played during the 2019 season, the 21-year-old averaged 18 disposals and five tackles per game.
His composure with ball in hand and defensive application in the middle of the ground complimented the attacking mindset of Geelong’s other midfielders.
Something he identified as a way of helping him get increased midfield minutes in a star-studded engine room.
“I knew that if I was going to get an opportunity in 2019 as a midfielder, I was going to have to bring that defensive pressure and really help out blokes like Paddy (Dangerfield) and Tim Kelly who was there.”
“Obviously, they were guns and I just thought that if I could work on the defensive end I that would complement them, so I think I focused on that when I was playing in the midfield and as a forward as well.”
His importance to the team didn’t go unnoticed.
“With players like Joel (Selwood) and Paddy (Dangerfield), it’s very much a case of see-ball get-ball, and someone like Mitch Duncan who plays that outside role, whereas Parfitt has an almost elite balance between contested footy, a bit of space and the ability to hold a formation,” former Geelong Captain Cameron Ling said.
“If the ball does go the other way, he can put pressure on the opposition, and he has a really good feel for decision making around the contest.”
Now with 54 games and 25 goals to his name Parfitt feels comfortable at AFL level and is hopeful of finding the right balance in 2020.
“I think now I have got the hang of everything, hopefully I can keep improving and getting better.”
“I think coming into 2020 I would like to take care of my body and really focus on my lifestyle and balance, and hopefully that can keep me in good stead, and I can play and train as much as I can. I think that will come a long way in my consistency as a footballer.”
“I think it just comes down to myself and being hungry and wanting to be a professional and giving my all”.
The Darwin native is one of 21 players in the team under the age of 21, which is equal most in the competition and captain Joel Selwood has been impressed with the way Parfitt has led that group.
“He has a huge role to play in 2020 and then onwards too,” Selwood said.
“I think he is getting a real appreciation for what it means to be an AFL footballer, but also to be a big part of the fabric of the club and to take it forward.”
“It usually takes a few years and he is a smart kid, and with the Indigenous background too he is really leading those boys and he is leading the group.”
