Nightcliff product Brandan Parfitt focusing on a big fifth season with his adopted club Geelong

Geelong on-baller Brandan Parfitt wants to replace the pain he suffered after breaking a thumb in the Cats’ grand final loss to Richmond by getting his hands on the AFL’s Holy Grail

Where it all began ... Geelong’s AFL star Brandan Parfitt at Nightcliff Oval. Picture: Grey Morris

BRANDAN Parfitt need no reminding of the hurdles he had to jump over to play a part in Geelong’s appearance in the 2020 AFL grand final.

Living away from home for three months in an AFL created hub, overcoming back soreness and breaking his thumb in the early minutes of the October 24 grand final at Brisbane’s Wooloongabba ground formed large parts of those roadblocks.

The pain was doubled at the final siren after Richmond turned a four-goal second quarter deficit into a five-goal win over the Cats.

Parfitt, a product of his NTFL club Nightcliff and Territory Thunder’s junior programs, has just completed clean-up surgery on his thumb after going under the surgeon’s knife two days after the grand final loss.

Finals football has become a habit for Parfitt, with 1l of them in his record book, including the breakthrough grand final against eventual premiers Richmond.

“I fractured it in the first couple of minutes but I didn’t think about it at the time until I went off and realised it was no good for me,’’ he told the NT News.

“It was one of those games when I felt a bit hopeless at times because of the injury, but it was a good taste of finals footy at its best.

“My mindset now is to get back and win one, it’s why we all play the game of footy and my teammates will definitely feel the same.’’

Parfitt’s four seasons with the Cats was in some jeopardy when prospective player swaps in pre-draft dealings included the former Nightcliff Tiger and draft picks in a bid to get gun GWS Giants forward Jeremy Cameron.

“There was a bit of talk of me leaving, but I think the Cats and myself were happy to stay, so I didn’t really read too much into it,’’ Parfitt said.

He negotiated a two-year contract extension soon after Cameron joined ex-Hawk Isaac Smith and former Kangaroo Shaun Higgins joined the Cats.

“They are three experienced guys and really good pick-ups for us, to the point where I’m sure they’ll help us win more games next season,’’ Parfitt said.

“I’m looking forward to meeting them when I get back to Geelong and learning from them at the same time.

The 2021 season will be my fifth season at Geelong and I’m loving it with the mates I’ve made and the amount of good people I’ve met.’’

Meanwhile, Parfitt wants to train with his former club before joining his Cats teammates for the pre-season.

“I haven’t seen a lot of them since I’ve been back home after looking for a bit of a break from footy.

“But next week when I get the stitches out I’ll be able to train with the boys and hopefully help out a bit.’’

Parfitt should crack the 100-game mark in 2022 with his games tally standing at 72.