Narkle shines as draft trio finally take the field together
IT has taken nearly three full seasons to happen, but on Saturday night Brandan Parfitt, Esava Ratugolea and Quinton Narkle all took to the field together for Geelong in an AFL game.
The trio were selected by the Cats in the 2016 draft, but a cursed run with injuries since arriving at GMHBA Stadium has meant at least one of them has always been out of contention for senior footy.
That changed in the middle of last week when — while in the middle of a post-training massage — Narkle received a tap on the shoulder from assistant coach James Rahilly with the good news he had been recalled for his first AFL game for the year.
“It was so good,” Narkle said. “It has been a long year and I just wanted to find form at the right time and now I just want to hold my spot in the team, so we’ll see how it goes heading into finals.
“I was a bit nervous going into the game but it was good being in the team and I held my own. I just wanted to perform the best I could, but I am just happy to be back out there, and it felt good when the boys came from around the ground (after his first goal), it has been a long time so that was nice.”
Narkle wasted little time showing the football world why he is so highly regarded at the Cats, registering 21 disposals, five clearances, three inside-50s, four tackles and two brilliant goals in a stellar return to senior footy.
He played a hand in several other goals, with his passes by foot into attack catching the eye of commentators.
The fact he was playing just his seventh AFL game was seemingly lost amid the poise Narkle showed with the ball in traffic, and after being told his contest work was a key reason for his inclusion, the 21-yearold said he was pleased to repay the faith.
“I pride myself on my contested work and that was what I wanted to bring to the team,” he said. “Playing against North Melbourne in these conditions I knew it was going to be a fight so I just wanted to play to my strengths.
“The whole team ended up doing it and we were strong in the contest, which got us over the line.
“So I want to come in and give it my best every week now and keep playing to my strengths.”