Geelong Cats’ Brandan Parfitt details struggle to breathe after Covid

One of Geelong’s rising midfield stars has revealed how Covid almost derailed his season, leaving him languishing on the couch after a hot start to the year.

Geelong midfielder Brandan Parfitt has revealed he struggled to breathe on his return to training after Covid, as he “went backwards” after contracting the virus.

Parfitt was due to make a return from a broken hand in mid-July before he tested positive for Covid.

After powering through a running program while his hand recovered from surgery, Parfitt said he was feeling “fitter than ever” before he was left to languish on the couch.

Brandan Parfitt fires out a handball. Picture: Daniel Pockett/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

While he returned to the field in one quarter of action as the medical-sub in Geelong’s win over the Western Bulldogs on Saturday night, the virus hampered the 24-year-old’s run back into the Cats side.

“It was really annoying,” Parfitt said of his Covid bout.

“I did a lot of work to get going, I did so much running in my rehab and felt fit and then Covid hit. I went backwards a little bit and felt like I was coughing a fair bit. I had a lot of phlegm and when I came back running I couldn’t breathe or run properly.

“I guess when you are not having the right preparation, training with everyone and being in the gym. You are at home on the couch and sick and your body is recovering. You sort of go backwards in that sense.”

While he was left frustrated by his Covid battle, Parfitt said the broken hand could have been a blessing in disguise.

The combative inside-midfielder said he was feeling fresh after eight weeks without games and ready to be part of Geelong’s run towards the flag.

“You have to think about it as a positive,” he said.

“When I hurt my hand I was still able to run, so I could work on my fitness and I felt like I was fitter than ever.

“I still have three more games up my sleeve (before finals) to get going and try and turn it into a positive. I felt like I was building to playing good football, but that is footy, everyone has injuries.”

Brandan Parfitt has been using a glove at training. Picture: Alison Wynd

Despite making an impact with four disposals and a pair of bone-crunching tackles in the final quarter against the Dogs when he replaced Gary Rohan (concussion) in his first career game as a sub, Parfitt said “hopefully I am not the sub too often”.

The midfielder was a lone figure after the game at GMHBA Stadium, powering through a 12km running session instead of playing in Geelong’s VFL loss on Sunday.

He has been wearing a glove on the right hand he broke at training in recent weeks but played with the hand strapped on Saturday night.

Parfitt said he was still considering wearing the glove in the game but he felt he didn’t have the right ball control with it on.

Originally published as Geelong Cats’ Brandan Parfitt details struggle to breathe after Covid