Injured Cat out of finals
GEELONG midfielder Brandan Parfitt will miss the rest of the finals in a “massive” injury blow to the Cats’ flag hopes.
Scans have confirmed Parfitt, who led the Cats’ tackle count in 11 of his 22 completed games this year, sustained a high-grade hamstring tear in the 35-point semi-final win over GWS on Friday night.
The 23-year-old was subbed out of the first quarter and will undergo surgery this week.
Cats wingman Isaac Smith said Parfitt would be a “massive” loss.
“He was one of those players that I probably underrated a fair bit coming from Hawthorn,” Smith said. “Once I saw what he did ... he’s pretty important to us. It’s a big loss.
“We’ve also got a few blokes in the wings that have been champing at the bit.
“We’re pretty lucky with the depth we’ve got going through the midfield.”
Parfitt is ranked top-10 in the competition (average 5.6) in tackles this year.
Smith said the Cats would miss his defensive edge.
“That’s what other teams and other people in the competition highlight, that he’s so good at bringing the opposition down and his quick feet around the stoppages,” he said.