Cats soak up the pressure
GEELONG youngster Brandan Parfitt hopes a change to his preseason program will help prevent a recurrence of the hamstring issue that curtailed his debut season.
The Cats’ first to fourth-year players returned to training yesterday, enjoying warm conditions on a pristine Deakin University oval.
Small forwards Lincoln McCarthy (hip/groin) and Cory Gregson (foot) were among those returning.
The two aim to put their hands up for Round 1 selection, after their seasons this year were ravaged by injury.
Parfitt, however, had a debut campaign to remember despite a serious hamstring setback early in the season, playing 15 games, including all three Geelong finals.
The 19-year-old said he would be looking to follow up his successes of last season, despite the competition for spots.
“I’ll just put my head down and keep training hard,” Parfitt said.
“I was surprised to play a lot of footy last year so I’ll just do the same thing again, train hard and put my hand up to play.
“It’s always good when there’s competition for spots on the line.
“That’s what drives the training standards and I’m looking forward to ‘Grego’ and ‘Lincs’ coming back.”
Having returned from a break in his home city of Darwin as well as a trip to Bali, Parfitt said he had returned lean and injury free.
“I had a good time off, just relaxing and getting the body right ht so I’m just building that fitness s up again,” Parfitt said.
“I think I’m a bit leaner. I wanted to get a bit skinnier and run na a lot better, so I think I did that. The body’s feeling good.
“I got over the hamstring ing injury and played the last few games, so the body is feeling the best it has, so I’m looking forward ward to it.
“I guess this preseason I’m going oing to work on that a little bit, structurally change a little bit and put less work through the hamstrings, s, so I’ll be working through it this preseason.”