Toast Thanks Travis - best of luck for the future

[steady2]

Not much I can add to what is already said. He showed a lot of potential but injuries messed him up and he never truly fulfilled his potential. I thought he got better in the last few games of the season but in reality I don't believe he was going to become the player he might have become, even so I was hoping we could keep him and I would have picked him in the starting 22 on recent form. Some great moments notably in grand finals and the Buddy tackle.

I hope he does well at Collingwood, but not well enough to embarrass us.

All the best Trav thanks for the memories and look after those two premiership medallions, you earned them.

 

[tassie tim]

was a great player in full flight. Will be forever grateful for his 3rd '11 GF goal. turning rnd to see my pies fan brother colour drain from his face was priceless. Was vindication for him carrying on like an A grade t.wat when they beat us in '10 prelim.

 

[BEEG]

Hey guys hope you don't mind me posting it always hurts to lose players we know the feeling more then anybody.

How is Travis when it comes to training and team culture will he be a leader or just go about he's business?

 

[David the Cat]

Popular with his teammates, particularly for his selflessness. People who have met him say he is a top bloke.

Wont make a big noise around the place, and will give it 100%.

And he's a better player than Lamumba, so I reckon you've done ok.

 

[dazbroncos]

Hey guys hope you don't mind me posting it always hurts to lose players we know the feeling more then anybody.

How is Travis when it comes to training and team culture will he be a leader or just go about he's business?

Wont be a vocal leadership type, but will lead by what he does. you have done well. Trains hard and does the team thing, which no offense, will be of benefit to you. You could have done a lot worse. And when he is in full flight with full confidence in his body and his role, he is game changing.

GO Catters

 

[Vdubs]

Popular with his teammates, particularly for his selflessness. People who have met him say he is a top bloke.

Wont make a big noise around the place, and will give it 100%.

And he's a better player than Lamumba, so I reckon you've done ok.

Wont be a vocal leadership type, but will lead by what he does. you have done well. Trains hard and does the team thing, which no offense, will be of benefit to you. You could have done a lot worse. And when he is in full flight with full confidence in his body and his role, he is game changing.

GO Catters

Hey guys hope you don't mind me posting it always hurts to lose players we know the feeling more then anybody.

How is Travis when it comes to training and team culture will he be a leader or just go about he's business?

I've heard from some staff at Geelong that his training often leaves his teammates in awe, when fit, quiet achiever, humble.
I'm keeping the avatar if you don't mind mind BEEG, until our next flag!
Might see me out.

 

[Bobby_]

How is Travis when it comes to training and team culture will he be a leader or just go about he's business?

never heard a bad word about him throughout his entire career. I think there was one twitter incident many years ago but it wasn't a big deal and other than that, just went about his business.
Hit pretty hard with injuries after 2011. Foot fracture then came back at the end of the year but immediately aggravated the same leg, comes back the following season looking like he's back to his 2011 old self but then busts his shoulder and requires surgery again. So it's really been a turbulent time for him and maybe at a club like Collingwood, that change in environment, doctors, physios will get the best out of him.

 

[Vdubs]

never heard a bad word about him throughout his entire career. I think there was one twitter incident many years ago but it wasn't a big deal and other than that, just went about his business.
Hit pretty hard with injuries after 2011. Foot fracture then came back at the end of the year but immediately aggravated the same leg, comes back the following season looking like he's back to his 2011 old self but then busts his shoulder and requires surgery again. So it's really been a turbulent time for him and maybe at a club like Collingwood, that change in environment, doctors, physios will get the best out of him.

Maybe not.

 

[MotleyLemon]

Met him at the casino in Sydney this year after the never-to-be-spoken-of-again game. Absolute class act, incredibly friendly bloke, can't say enough good things about him really.

On field, probably one of my favourite players to watch when up and going, though myself and a few mates have also agreed he is probably one of the most amusing players to watch in the AFL, with some of his efforts and decisions defying belief (both good and bad).

As has been said previously in the thread, deserves to be remembered as one of the absolute heroes of the 2011 GF. His celebrations after his 3rd goal (and of course the lead up play) still give me shivers. It'll be hard watching him at Collingwood but I wish him all the best.

Cheers Trav.

 

[dazbroncos]

Met him at the casino in Sydney this year after the never-to-be-spoken-of-again game. Absolute class act, incredibly friendly bloke, can't say enough good things about him really.

On field, probably one of my favourite players to watch when up and going, though myself and a few mates have also agreed he is probably one of the most amusing players to watch in the AFL, with some of his efforts and decisions defying belief (both good and bad).

As has been said previously in the thread, deserves to be remembered as one of the absolute heroes of the 2011 GF. His celebrations after his 3rd goal (and of course the lead up play) still give me shivers. It'll be hard watching him at Collingwood but I wish him all the best.

Cheers Trav.

Still gives Eddie chins shivers too.

Go Catters

 

[Nankervis brothers]

His best was brilliant - the three involvement goal in the 11 GF being the obvious example of that. The composure to slot that kick after essentially sprinting the length of ground and being involved in key plays at the same time was next level. The commentary still shits me - 'laconically'? Nothing laconic about that goal: it was hard graft, good decision making, and great finishing. But mostly hard graft! There are a bunch of other examples, but they have been touched on.

Obviously the biggest issue was a lack of consistency, which was possibly the result of injury interruptions. I also believe he was played out of position over the last two seasons. He should be used more as a true outside mid and less as a rebounding defender type.

Anyway, inconsistency aside, I enjoyed watching him in the hoops. A two time Geelong Premiership player who will forever be remembered for his great performance in that GF, when it really counted.

He was much more hard working than he was given credit for on these boards. Hope he finds good form in the latter part of his career at the Pies.

 

[Gavin Excell]

Herald Sun reporting that Varcoe believes Pies more chance of helping him win a third flag than at geelong. Seems to be a bit of leap the report is making from his comments


TRAVIS Varcoe wants to win a third premiership — and believes the greater security Collingwood has offered could give him a better chance than if he had remained at Geelong.

The creative utility revealed on Wednesday he feared the Cats might eventually turn to their younger brigade at his expense and the Magpies had “blown everyone out of the park” as he meticulously researched potential second homes

 

[Partridge]

He was much more hard working than he was given credit for on these boards. Hope he finds good form in the latter part of his career at the Pies.

Every player on the list is far more hardworking than we give credit for. You wouldn't get VFL games if you were really lazy.

 

[Nankervis brothers]

Every player on the list is far more hardworking than we give credit for. You wouldn't get VFL games if you were really lazy.

Agreed. Though it was Travis in particular who got the lazy tag by many on this board, and it was a completely inappropriate tag.

 

[Sttew]

Herald Sun reporting that Varcoe believes Pies more chance of helping him win a third flag than at geelong. Seems to be a bit of leap the report is making from his comments


TRAVIS Varcoe wants to win a third premiership — and believes the greater security Collingwood has offered could give him a better chance than if he had remained at Geelong.

Tell him he's dreaming!! By the time Collingwood is in premiership mode Varcoe will be retired.

I heard him interviewed on 3AW the other night and he said Collingwood has offered him more time in the midfield than Geelong was prepared to offer.

 

[Bobby_]

The creative utility revealed on Wednesday he feared the Cats might eventually turn to their younger brigade at his expense and the Magpies had “blown everyone out of the park” as he meticulously researched potential second homes

so he feared a couple of the younger players were going to push him out and was happy to leave when Collingwood came calling?
That in itself suggests he may have been stagnating for just a little too long if he was concerned about his spot in the team. It doesn't bode well for Collingwood if that is the case as they too are re-building and will now be playing a bloke who may have little to no more improvement left in him, at the expense of one of Collingwood's younger players.

Time for Lang, Hartman, Thurlow & McCarthy to take that next step and consolidate a spot in our best 22 by the end of next season.

 

[GTOA]

All a lot of you have done over the years is bag Travis Varcoe, say he is unworthy of a spot in the side, and blame him for single-handedly costing us the 2013 PF (even though if he kicked the goal, it would have meant extra time, and would we have won that?).

But now you all praise him and wish him well.

I would have thought Son of Meto would have been celebrating and wondering "What took so long"?

It is the same when Shannon Byrnes left. You all praised a guy who you had bagged for years.

You are like the people at a funeral, who say nice things that they don't mean about someone they have never had any time for before.

Anyway, I appreciated Varcoe. He handballed to Chapman in the 2009 GF, and kicked a great late goal in 2011 GF (he didn't play in '07). So Varcoe, much maligned on these boards, played a part in the closing moments of two Grand Finals.

 

[Go Hoops]

A much superior version of Lumumba, who he replaces. Good pick-up for the Pies.

 

[Roadie]

so he feared a couple of the younger players were going to push him out and was happy to leave when Collingwood came calling?
That in itself suggests he may have been stagnating for just a little too long if he was concerned about his spot in the team. It doesn't bode well for Collingwood if that is the case as they too are re-building and will now be playing a bloke who may have little to no more improvement left in him, at the expense of one of Collingwood's younger players.

Time for Lang, Hartman, Thurlow & McCarthy to take that next step and consolidate a spot in our best 22 by the end of next season.

It was a diplomatic statement Bobby, I wouldn't read too much into it.

 

[iameviljez]

A much superior version of Lumumba, who he replaces. Good pick-up for the Pies.

Popular with his teammates, particularly for his selflessness. People who have met him say he is a top bloke.

Wont make a big noise around the place, and will give it 100%.

And he's a better player than Lamumba, so I reckon you've done ok.

I think you guys might be underrating Lumumba, who does have a number of top-5 B and F finishes under his belt in good Collingwood sides. I know that his political stance isn't always popular, but he is a big-bodied dynamic player and he's a lot stronger over/under the footy than Trav.

 

[JUBJUB]

Bit of an oops above ^^^^

 

[Bobby_]

It was a diplomatic statement Bobby, I wouldn't read too much into it.

kind of like the one Chapman made last year when he felt Essendon can win the flag this year

 

[Roadie]

haha indeed

 

[you pick one]

so he feared a couple of the younger players were going to push him out and was happy to leave when Collingwood came calling?
That in itself suggests he may have been stagnating for just a little too long if he was concerned about his spot in the team. It doesn't bode well for Collingwood if that is the case as they too are re-building and will now be playing a bloke who may have little to no more improvement left in him, at the expense of one of Collingwood's younger players.

Time for Lang, Hartman, Thurlow & McCarthy to take that next step and consolidate a spot in our best 22 by the end of next season.

Piss poor if that's correct Bobby a 26 year old 138 gamer petrified for his spot with the kids we have coming through,that's pretty weak IMO.

 

[Stig_90]

A much superior version of Lumumba, who he replaces. Good pick-up for the Pies.

I think Lumumba has become pretty underrated. All his off field bullshit aside, he's a great line breaker and always plays well against us. I wouldn't say Varcoe's better, it's a close call.