Another thread about Varcoe

[DanA]

Are you serious? Besides Murphy, Thomas and maybe Pendlebury, nobody in the top 10 played senior footy for a prolonged period.

Compare it to the draft where Hodge, Judd, Bartel etc. all went top 10 for starters, and this year's draft will be a lot better also.

How many top 15 players didn't play a game? I reckon it is Ellis and Varcoe and that is it. Ellis is a Luke Ball situation where he was allowed to finish year 12 and Varcoe was due to injury.

That was comparable to 2001 which is obviously a exceptional year.

With the number of KPP in the top 15 this draft, the top 15 will not play anywhere near the same number of games. Thorp, Gumbleton, Hansen, Leuenberger, Reid, Riewoldt, Sellar and Everitt will all probably play few games.

 

[rizzo]

Varcoe in the VFL today was sensational!

 

[carn_the_cattas]

Varcoe in the VFL today was sensational!

Who else played well in the VFL??

 

[Tristagi]

Will he get called up for the Brisbane game? Hope so, can't wait to see him play the big leagues.

 

[rizzo]

Who else played well in the VFL??

Owen and spencer were the only others i saw. Owen was great off a HBF.

 

[geelong_boy]

Varcoe in the VFL today was sensational!

How was he sensational rizzo?

 

[geelong_boy]

Cats claim first win
9:37:24 AM Mon 5 March, 2007
Nick Wade
gfc.com.au

Five goals from VFL-aspirant Aaron Wilson and a best on ground performance by stand in skipper Matthew Spencer has seen the Bendigo Bank Cats record their first win of the season by 29-points against Box Hill at Skilled Stadium on Saturday.

Fielding one of the most inexperienced squads in the team’s history, the Cats took to the field against a Box Hill line up featuring seven AFL-listed players with collectively two matches of AFL experience.

After recovering from an early deficit, the Cats kicked five goals to two in the second quarter to take a firm grip on the game and looked in control for the remainder of the match to prevail 13-11-89 to 8-12-60 in muggy conditions.

Ultimately, the Cats used the ball better and with greater efficiency than the Hawks, however - indicative of the skill level in early season matches - the Cats’ ball use was far from comprehensive.
Spencer played across half forward and assumed the role of the dominant big man in the absence of late AFL-inclusion Todd Grima.

The key position player took the on field control and emerged as one of the most experienced players on the park, looming ominously throughout the afternoon and giving the Cats structure, as he collected 15 disposals and six marks.

His presence complemented - and almost took a back seat to - the forward domination of Wilson, whose five-goal performance will undoubtedly catapult his VFL list prospects into the basket of seriously considered players.

In what was another shining light to surface from the victory, Stephen Owen declared his intentions of imposing himself in the VFL this season with another solid performance.

For the second week running, the maturing youngster was committed to putting his body on the line in contests, while his persistence and desire to win possession were also clearly evident all afternoon.

One of only three AFL players to take the field, Owen seized the opportunity given to him to win plenty of the football off half back, giving the Cats plenty of drive, gathering 21 possessions and a goal.

Likewise, exciting first round draft pick Travis Varcoe relished his licence to carve it up off the wing, playing with confidence and a flare of exuberance throughout most of the afternoon.

The evasive forward is already starting to translate last year’s sporadic bursts of brilliance into more consistent glimpses of his uncanny ability this year, after a relatively uninterrupted preseason campaign.

Tom Couch, son of former Geelong star Paul, was the leading possession winner for the triumphant Cats, gathering plenty of the football through the engine room as a result of his hard work ethic and determination to prove a point on the verge of the home and away season.

South Barwon’s Scott Thompson has returned for his second VFL season, delivering his typically resolute performances down back.

Someone who you can rely on to beat his opponent, or at least provide a valiant contest, Thompson won the footy 15 times and claimed five marks in a trademark outing.

Andrew McArthur - with 19 disposals, 10 marks and four spoils – made an impact for the Cats, with his solid frame and instinctive ball winning nous providing the perfect balance to enable him to be used in a variety of roles this season.

Promising ruckman Shane Mumford controlled the rucking duties and gave the Cats first use of the ball on numerous occasions.

A big man who moves well and has a good set of hands, Mumford has had a very good preseason and will push hard for a spot on the Cats VFL list.

With inspirational captain James Byrne still a week or two away from returning, and several listed players from last season sitting out to open opportunities for the VFL-aspirants to stake their claim, the young Cats produced a very promising performance.

The Bendigo Bank Cats continue their stretch of four home practice matches this week when they do battle with Collingwood-affiliated Williamstown at Skilled Stadium on Sunday at 1.00pm.

 

[cat_fanatic]

Sounds encouraging! Still don't think he will be selected for the Brisbaine game this week.

 

[Seb]

Stephen Owen has bucketloads of talent.

GeeCat and I claimed him last year despite rumours circulating about his failure to inform the club of his physical condition when he was drafted. If he works hard, he will certainly get a few games in the seniors.

I rate him and he should henceforth be known as 'Dopey' (it still hasn't taken off).

Sir Dopey in fact.

As for Varcoe, realistically he wasn't on the list in my mind last year. This is his first year at the club. Give the kid a chance. I'd much rather read people getting stuck into Mackie, Kelly, and Playfair who actually merit criticism.

 

[DBAH0]

How many top 15 players didn't play a game? I reckon it is Ellis and Varcoe and that is it. Ellis is a Luke Ball situation where he was allowed to finish year 12 and Varcoe was due to injury.

That was comparable to 2001 which is obviously a exceptional year.

With the number of KPP in the top 15 this draft, the top 15 will not play anywhere near the same number of games. Thorp, Gumbleton, Hansen, Leuenberger, Reid, Riewoldt, Sellar and Everitt will all probably play few games.

But then players like Dowler and Oakley - Nicholls only played a couple of games, and it was only the top 2 who played the vast majority of 2006. And readymade players like Jones or Hurn for various reasons didn't play many games either.

In the long - run anyways the 2006 draft will be much better than the 2005 one, because these type of KP prospects haven't really been able to be had in the 1 draft.

 

[nananana catman]

Stephen Owen has bucketloads of talent.

GeeCat and I claimed him last year despite rumours circulating about his failure to inform the club of his physical condition when he was drafted. If he works hard, he will certainly get a few games in the seniors.

I rate him and he should henceforth be known as 'Dopey' (it still hasn't taken off).

Sir Dopey in fact.

You are gunna keep flogging that dopey horse till its dead arent you seb?