Brandan Parfitt is one of the B-grade midfielders at Geelong, a status which can mean you get forgotten about somewhat as the superstars in the A rotation take most of the glory. As a fantasy producer, players like Parfitt, Menegola and Narkle can see their production wax and wane according to role in the team, with spells on the flanks tending towards sheepdogging at times. When used to the guts, however, Parfitt can pile on the points with the best of them, it's just a matter of picking when his rollercoaster is going to hit the heights.
Brandan Parfitt is one of the B-grade midfielders at Geelong, a status which can mean you get forgotten about somewhat as the superstars in the A rotation take most of the glory. As a fantasy producer, players like Parfitt, Menegola and Narkle can see their production wax and wane according to role in the team, with spells on the flanks tending towards sheepdogging at times. When used to the guts, however, Parfitt can pile on the points with the best of them, it's just a matter of picking when his rollercoaster is going to hit the heights.
Brandan Parfitt was the fantasy top scorer for Geelong in round 1 as they went down in a shock result to the reigning wooden spoon Crows. This week the Cats face off against Brisbane's top four midfield without Patrick Dangerfield and Sam Menegola, which means up-and-comers like Parfitt are going to have to lift their ratings even further to break even. Parfitt is in the right age range to break out but he isn't being talked about nearly as much as some who went earlier in his draft, perhaps due to a history of fragility. His upside is undeniable, however.
Parfitt drives for show
The third year breakout we expected for Brandan Parfitt didn't eventuate, with a stacked Geelong midfield leaking very few minutes for youngsters to claim as their own. Brandan still remained a key cog across half forward, providing valuable pressure with five tackles per game. With Tim Kelly headed out west, midfield minutes are up for grabs at the Cats. Jack Steven will take some but not all, meaning that the likes of Parfitt and Quinton Narkle are every chance to increase their output. Snap him up in the middle rounds.
Parfitt finds best fit
Brandan Parfitt all but solidified his spot in Geelong’s starting 22 after an laudable second season. The North Adelaide recruit improved in all statistical areas, and found a home on the half forward flank alongside Sam Menegola. Going into his third year on Geelong’s list, this hard nut hasn’t put a foot wrong thus far. Parfitt looks set to continue his development and is every chance to take his game to another level, as he pushes for more midfield minutes. Watch his role in the preseason, as any indication of more midfield time spells gold for fantasy coaches. Parfitt should be taken with a draft pick in the middle rounds given his potential for a breakout season.
Wrong fit for Parfitt
Playing every senior game for which he was fit in his first year, Brandan Parfitt was used in a more outside role than the one he had made a name for himself at junior level, with 37% of his 13 touches per game being contested. A hamstring injury put him out for two months in the middle of the year, and he did not reach 50 fantasy points in six games after July. Geelong's list is in transition from its previous flag-winning all stars to something a bit less balanced to support its handful of elites, and the bottom end of their midfield is very young with Parfitt a prime example. He will enjoy some natural improvement and also probably suffer from second-year syndrome, which puts his draft league value somewhere below the baseline for a pick.
