BRANDAN Parfitt has revealed he still doesn’t feel secure in the Geelong team despite an impressive start to the 2019 season.
The 21-year-old has played nine of the first ten games – he missed the Round 6 clash over West Coast with a quad injury – and is averaging 19 disposals, six tackles, three clearances and three inside 50s.
However, with plenty of depth in the VFL, Parfitt knows he has to keep performing to maintain his spot in the Cats’ best twenty-two.
“I feel like that every week. I don’t feel like I have a spot in the best twenty-two sealed,” he said.
“I feel like I need to perform every week to keep my spot.
“If I’m not finding the footy, I go back to pressuring and defending, and I think I’m doing that really well.
“Hopefully, I can build into the second half of the year.”
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Parfitt, who is now in his third season at GMHBA Stadium, is spending more time in the midfield, which is reflected in his contested possession numbers.
He is averaging nine contested possessions per game in 2019, well up on the six he averaged through his first two years.
“Everyone’s playing their role and knows their role,” Parfitt said.
“I’ve only been here for three years, but I felt Joel (Selwood), and Paddy (Dangerfield) and all the good players were guns and got us over the line a little bit.
“But, (this year) I think everyone’s just buying in, contributing and doing their bit for the team, and I think that’s what a good team looks like.”
Parfitt says with nine wins from the opening ten rounds it’s hard not to look ahead to September and a shot at a first Geelong premiership in eight years.
“You have a glimpse and hope to get there, but there’s still so many good teams and games to get through,” he said.
“It’s pretty cliched, but (you) take it one week at the time.
“I’m enjoying my footy at the moment, and hopefully I can keep performing and getting my games up.”
Twitter: @tom_king79
Email: kingy@geelongbroadcasters.com
