Brown v Varcoe v Thomas

[rand corp]

I think Brown will be the unlucky one if it comes down to one of the three missing out, (and it seems almost certain one of them will).

Finals is a whole new ball game, withering pressure, unrelenting intensity and pace.

Thomas is running into some good goal kicking form and has finals experience,
Varcoe is in good nick and is a proven finals performer,
Brown if anything, has tapered slightly at the tail end of the season.

Brown has had a very good year and continues to develop nicely, would not be disappointed if he was picked just think he might be the one who misses out.

 

[TheVarcoenator]

Here are their averages over the last 5 games. As I suspected, Brown has been crap lately and really needs to be the first player dropped.

The reasonable form he was showing in the middle of the season has completely deserted him.

Brown
16 possessions, 0.2 goals, 2.8 tackles

Varcoe
12.2 possessions, 1.2 goals, 2 tackles

Thomas
15 possessions, 2.6 goals, 2.6 tackles

Goal assists?

 

[Boris the Contradiction]

Goal assists?

Varcoe, Brown and Thomas have registered 4 goal assists each over the last 5 games (0.8 goal assists per game each).

 

[smasher]

Can't under estimate Varcoe's forward pressure.He's got a few tricks in his kit bag

 

[Quicky]

Hard to pick. It depends what we want. Pressure vs. threatening.

Varcoe: Pressure and big game player. Low possessions.
Brown: Pressure and good contested player. Good kick inside 50. Not much of a goal kicking threat.
Thomas: Goal kicking but poorer defensively and poor finals record.

I toss up between Brown and Varcoe. I lean towards Varcoe unless Browns knee is sore.

 

[ExcitementMachine]

Brown's effort in the finals last year in vfl gets him the nod. Reckon he may crank it up a gear and pull out a performance like he did against the Carlton earlier this year.

 

[MagicGnome97]

Varcoe is definitely third. And I would definitely have Brown 1st. I've been very pleased with him this year. He is probably the most improved player at the club this season. No way he gets dropped ahead of Varcoe imo.

 

[MagicGnome97]

Brown has won us a few games this season off his own boot (eg. Carlton round 7/8ish) whilst neither Thomas or Varcoe have really done that. That being said, Thomas has been scoring regularly in the last month, he has to stay in the side. Varcoe, aside from that gold coast game, hasn't done enough to stay in imo with the 3 big ins we have.

 

[kickitolachie]

This is nearly impossible. In the end, the selectors will call it and we will like or lump it according to the result on Friday night. None of the players deserve to be dropped, but the sheer quality of the returnees means some of them will have to be. Everyone is assuming that Madgen will go, but he doesn't deserve it either. He is showing definite promise for the future.

 

[jonbe54]

This is nearly impossible. In the end, the selectors will call it and we will like or lump it according to the result on Friday night. None of the players deserve to be dropped, but the sheer quality of the returnees means some of them will have to be. Everyone is assuming that Madgen will go, but he doesn't deserve it either. He is showing definite promise for the future.

The harsh realities of playing on a vastly improved list, it's great but can be tough to live with the exigencies of necessity come finals time.

 

[Chameleon75]

You can make a case for all three staying or going, it come down to whatever the coaching staff think provides balance.

On a side note in my family we refer to Varcoe as agent 86, as each time he crumbs a pack he “missed it by that much”.

 

[MarkT2]

Varcoe isn't in our best 25. He can set a game alight but doesn't do it regularly enough. I wouldn't have had Brown in the side at the start of the year but he has steadily improved over the year. He's battling with a few others, including Thomas, for a bench spot in the best 22. I'd go with Brown this week but swap for Thomas if Brown doesn't quite measure up.

 

[Scritchyscroony]

You can make a case for all three staying or going, it come down to whatever the coaching staff think provides balance.

On a side note in my family we refer to Varcoe as agent 86, as each time he crumbs a pack he “missed it by that much”.

It's spectacular the 4 times a year he gets it though. He's one of the best in the game at crumbling a pack at full tilt and the only player in the league who tries to do it... every.... single ....time.!

 

[Bramax]

Goal assists?

Very important stat he gives goals off.
The other important stat is “opposition bodies broken”. Varcoe hits like a steam train. Old school hard as nails player.

 

[Johno9911]

I think this is the hardest call that will need to be made heading into Friday night. With Stephenson and DeGoey back and Elliot already in the forward line I can see only 2 of these guys making the side.

I have Brown slightly ahead of the other 2, his step in traffic and tackling have him just ahead for mine, and I think he rotates through the middle better than the Varcoe or JT.

For the other 2 I thought I'd look at the key stats for a small forward (in my opinion anyway), in last years finals series, and see that Varcoe shaded JT in pretty much every stat.
2018 Finals Series:
Goals: Varcoe 4 – 3 Thomas
Tackles: Varcoe 20 – 14 Thomas
Pressure Acts: Varcoe 72 – 69 Thomas
Varcoe bettered JT in every stat you would want from your small forward, all on less TOG%.

However over the last 3 weeks JT has smashed Trav:
Last 3 weeks:
Goals: Varcoe 4 – 6 Thomas
Tackles: Varcoe 6 – 10 Thomas
Pressure Acts: Varcoe 39 – 65 Thomas

It makes for an interesting dilemma of the in form player v the proven finals performer. At this stage I am slightly leaning toward Varoce, simply because I think he is the better crumbing forward, compared to JT who is a bit more similar to JDG and Elliot in being more of a lead up forward.

 

[NeverWobble]

I think JT will stay so can we find a Collingwood “loophole” and play Varcs in the first half and Callum in the second half.
Seriously though, I agree that Varcoe/Brown are so hard to split.

 

[Boogy]

None... Noble out and WHE takes his spot. Played his best game for year v WC when switched to defence to cover Moore injury.

 

[manicpie]

None... Noble out and WHE takes his spot. Played his best game for year v WC when switched to defence to cover Moore injury.

I like your lateral thinking but we have to make way for 3 or 4 players so a couple will have to come out

 

[Apples]

without Aish back I have all 3 currently in the team to take on Geelong

Really? Who makes way for Sidey, Stevo and DeGoey then?
Varcoe misses for mine. Thomas and Brown stay.

 

[nahnah]

Really? Who makes way for Sidey, Stevo and DeGoey then?
Varcoe misses for mine. Thomas and Brown stay.

Bloody hell that was a week ago I can’t remember but Varcoe would be first out of those 3 for me

 

[DaicosianMarvels]

Varcoe isn’t even going to be considered to make way for anyone lol.

It’s got to be out of Thomas and Brown. Thomas is slowly getting some form it seems.

In a game that will be wet and goals hard to come by we need players who can hit the scoreboard and too me it’s actually now a very simple call. Clearly Brown makes way.

I will feel sorry for the kid and my heart will break but the changes for this week are actually pretty easy.

In: Sidebottom, DeGoey and Stephenson
Out: Madgen, Noble and Brown

That is our best 22 available imo. Players like Aish, Brown, Noble, Madgen, Goldsack and Sier only come in if there are suspensions or injuries.

 

[Kilmo]

Varcoe isn’t even going to be considered to make way for anyone lol.

It’s got to be out of Thomas and Brown. Thomas is slowly getting some form it seems.

In a game that will be wet and goals hard to come by we need players who can hit the scoreboard and too me it’s actually now a very simple call. Clearly Brown makes way.

I will feel sorry for the kid and my heart will break but the changes for this week are actually pretty easy.

In: Sidebottom, DeGoey and Stephenson
Out: Madgen, Noble and Brown

That is our best 22 available imo. Players like Aish, Brown, Noble, Madgen, Goldsack and Sier only come in if there are suspensions or injuries.

Agree with everything here, though I would have Aish in the team if not for his shoulder injury.