In and out of the team this year, Geelong midfielder Brandan Parfitt has zeroed in on what he needs to improve to lock down a spot.
A first-team player for almost the entirety of his 115-game career, Parfitt, 25, has been squeezed out of Geelong’s engine room at times this season and has played four VFL matches.
Brandan Parfitt knows what he need to improve. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images
He returned to the side for Friday night’s loss against Richmond and had just 10 disposals in a game he described as “a bit quiet”.
Parfitt has fans in the right places, with Cats coach Chris Scott adamant last week he saw the hard-nut as a part of Geelong’s inside midfield rotation when at his best.
The strong tackler was left out of Geelong’s team for the first two finals last year despite excellent form leading into September, before he was called up as the medical substitute in place of an injured Max Holmes for the grand final win over Sydney.
Parfitt said he was focused on making the most of his strengths and improving some aspects of his game.
“It’s probably a combination of a lot of things,” he said.
“I know what I am good at and I know what I need to work on and it’s just a matter of doing the things I am really good at, really well.”
Brandan Parfitt has kept his smile strong at training. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images
Parfitt said he had turned his attention to being a good teammate when he was dropped, with his attitude also drawing praise from Scott recently.
With star midfielders Patrick Dangerfield (hamstring) and Cam Guthrie (toe) to return in coming weeks, Parfitt may have little time to cement a spot.
“It’s the first time in my career I have been dropped and up and down (between the seniors and reserves),” he said.
“I have just gone back to the process and trying to work hard. Hopefully my performance will come. I was a bit quiet on the weekend, hopefully I can get another crack at it.
“All I can really do is be a good teammate.
“At training, (I am) just trying to train hard with the mentality of getting better and that sort of pushes other blokes as well and also, just being positive. Nobody wants someone that is moping around training and carrying on a bit, so I just try and be positive and have a good influence on my teammates.”
Brandan Parfitt labels online racists as “disgraceful” and “sad”
Geelong premiership player Brandan Parfitt has labelled racist online trolls as “disgraceful” and “sad” as he prepares to celebrate his Indigenous culture during the AFL’s Sir Doug Nicholls Round.
Possibly the most important Indigenous round staged by the AFL was launched on Tuesday, and the leagues’ inclusion and social policy boss Tanya Hosch bemoaned the constant racist abuse that remains in the game.
Bobby Hill of the Magpies, Jarman Impey of the Hawks, Jayden Davey of the Bombers, Jesse Motlop of the Blues, Maurice Rioli of the Tigers, Brandan Parfitt of the Cats and Bradley Hill of the Saints launch Sir Doug Nicholls Round. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images
The rounds, to be held over the next two weekends, will also be played ahead of this year’s national Voice to parliament referendum.
Several players have been racially attacked through social media this year, while Western Bulldog young gun Jamarra Ugle-Hagan was abused by spectators during a match in March.
Parfitt, a proud Larrakia and Warumungu man, said he was “very fortunate” to not have been attacked online himself during his career but he said it was “pretty sad” to see other players cop it.
“It is pretty disgraceful and it’s sad,” he said.
“It is keyboard warriors out there who have nothing better to do than write something abusive just because of the colour of your skin. It is pretty sad.”
Parfitt chose not to go into detail about the upcoming referendum but said “I am going to vote yes and that is where I stand”.
Brandan Parfitt with ball in hand. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images
The Geelong midfielder said the Doug Nicholls weekends were “my two favourite rounds for the season”, with the Cats to travel to play Fremantle (known as Walyalup in Indigenous rounds) before hosting GWS Giants.
Geelong will wear navy blue and white versions of its Indigenous strip in the next fortnight, with the guernsey designed by Awabakal artist Michelle Searle.
The Cats will swap between guernseys in the next two weeks. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos
Parfitt said his culture was “everything” to him.
“It means everything to me, it is who I am,” he said.
“It is what I identify as and it’s my people. My family is Indigenous and my family is No.1 for me, so it means the world and I love celebrating it and I love Australia and the world to know about my culture.
“(The rounds are) for my people and family. You look back at all the past players who have paved the way and it is pretty special and something I love being a part of.”