Does Varcoe have a chance?

[Mighty Cat]

Travis Vacoe is one of my favourite players, Each week I look at the teams hoping he gets another shot but as they say Geelong is one hard team to get into.

With Gamble,Taylor (awesome too), Byrne and Tenace and with other guys waiting o come back in like Ottens,Mackie and Egan does Varcoe have a shot or has he lost it?

 

[chapmanmagic35]

Whne he starts getting more than four kicks a week.

 

[Duskfire]

Varcoe had a crap pre-season, and isn't doing too great in the reserves. There is no reason to bring him in; Brynes would get a game ahead of the Big V purely based on how he is playing, which is relativily decent as opposed to relativily terrible.

 

[Glassjaw]

Exactly. Needs to get more touches.

 

[Cheshire Cat]

Varcoe has not impressed me yet, even last year when he played 17 or so games. He gets very few possessions and even when he gets it, he's not a lock to use it well. I actually do prefer Byrnes, because althugh Byrnes can't kick a goal to save his life he provides service and at least knows how to get the thing.

In summary, can't see Varcoe playing this year unless we have major injuries

 

[candiehappy]

He's one of my favourites, but just out of touch. Can't possibly get in the next couple of months.

 

[DanA]

Brynes is well ahead of Varcoe at this stage. Travis is struggling to have an impact in the VFL. Gone backwards.

 

[Ninty]

I agree, can't actually believe I would ever say that Byrnes is better than someone.

 

[candiehappy]

I didn'tsee the VFL on TV, but Varcoe was listed amongst the best players in the paper. Hopefully turning the corner!

 

[DanA]

Saw first 3 quarters, he played mostly on the wing. He was good in patches but far to quite for a guy looking at regular time in the AFL. Byrnes and Tenace were really a level above the rest of the team but where still suffering from the same old problems re: Disposal.

 

[Hoffy95]

Varcoe is miles off.

Byrnes, Mackie, Egan, Ottens, Prismall, Tenace and Lonergan are all ahead of him at this stage, with half those mentioned essentially automatic inclusions...possibly even some others I've missed.

He needs to work his little backside off if he 'wants in'.

Flashy forward crumbers tend to be notoriously lazy and Varcoe definitely needs to lift his intensity if he's to be even considered an emergency.

I'd love to see him turn things up a notch and secure a spot, but IMO can't see it happening soon (if at all this season), which may see him as attractive trade bait next year.

 

[cat in sydney]

I think Varcoe's problem is that he 'receives' the ball rather than going and 'getting' the ball, if that makes sense. This is why he doesn't get any more possessions in the VFL than he does in the AFL.

When he played at the beginning of last year, he generally hovered around the 6-10 possession mark, which were all balls that were opportunistic, 'in the right spot at the right time' kind of possessions.
It's the type of possessions that he gets that means he won't ever rack up big numbers. Until he learns how to go in and 'get' the ball (i.e. outbody opponents), he will stay in the VFL getting 6-10 possessions each week.

 

[The Casey Cat]

Varcoe does ok... the three or four times a game he gets the footy.

 

[RoyalCatFan]

While i agree with everything said about Varcoe as far as possessions go, he does really add a uniqueness to our fowardline with his defensive pressure. As much as gamble, hawkins et al try they just dont have that burst that Travis does, it became so obvious last year that teams were setting blocks to stop him from pressuring opposing defences. I really think if he could get the rest of his game up to an acceptable level he could be a very special part of this team.

 

[vinum coupe]

While i agree with everything said about Varcoe as far as possessions go, he does really add a uniqueness to our fowardline with his defensive pressure. As much as gamble, hawkins et al try they just dont have that burst that Travis does, it became so obvious last year that teams were setting blocks to stop him from pressuring opposing defences. I really think if he could get the rest of his game up to an acceptable level he could be a very special part of this team.

I agree but around 3/4 of the way thru the season last year he stopped applying that hard defensive chasing.

Not sure if he is still lacking it this year.

 

[BigKegs]

He's had a injury riddled career down at the cats. When will his time be up? He shows his talent in patches but he's still not up to scratch and considering small players shouldn't take long to develop, surely the clock is ticking for him. Would love to see him part of the team instead of Byrnesy.

 

[hamG]

He and many aboriginal players have perfect pure football skills but struggle to translate them to AFL level team football.

He needs Kelly to show him how to do the hard stuff and Wojak to show him how to break the lines. Both of those guys are more valuable players for us but do not have the pure talent of Varcoe. He needs coaching.

 

[Asty]

He's had a injury riddled career down at the cats. When will his time be up? He shows his talent in patches but he's still not up to scratch and considering small players shouldn't take long to develop, surely the clock is ticking for him. Would love to see him part of the team instead of Byrnesy.

Djerrkura has been more injury riddled.

So when will his time be up is probably a harsh question.

Varcoe was drafted with an existing injury which he recieved in an SANFL game. The club drafted him knowing it would basically rule out his 1st year at the club (he missed 12months of footy basically). 2nd year he is basically the same age now as the guys recruited a year after him and he manages to play 17 games (or something like that) and is a goal kicker early even if not a big posession winner (no selwood but not a disgrace either). 3rd year he is struggling but a lot of young players do struggle in 2nd year and lets not forget he is trying to get into the strongest team in the league.

Some players who should be delisted before Varcoe (at this stage)...

Byrnes - showing some improvement but has had along time on the list and hasn't cemented spot. Varcoe has more upside and the ability to become a v.good afl player

Tenace - same as byrnes

Davenport - Not sure he is AFL standard and is behind our current midfield crop (behind prismall as well). and is older at 22 so varcoe has the skills and is still young enough that if he does break through will still give us 10years. I wouldn't delist yet as adds depth for midfield or wing at this stage so maybe give another year or two on the list.

Djerrkura - soft tissue injuries already a problem at a young age (more so than varcoe!!!). I wouldn't delist at this stage but for the reasons given for varcoe to be delisted may aswell consider aswell??

Hogan - is he really a chance to become an AFL footballer. I dont know much about him apart from v.light for afl.

 

[go fullta]

no..

 

[DanA]

I'm not sure he works hard enough. He needs to put on 5 kgs of muscle and improve his endurance. Then he would be a good players

 

[g-thing]

how about he does something before we seek to promote him??

 

[CF]

did you hear he had his appendix out in the preseason?

Anyway, from a person I know who knows Trav well he has built up more on the physical side compared to last year. I agree his VFL form is not warranting his call to the Seniors at present. Maybe with Prismall playing this week Trav can play a bit of midfield and get his hands on the ball a bit.

 

[thejester]

On last seasons form he was an outside player (ala Del Santo?) - in stark contrast to the Bomber philosophy (win contested footy). Will probably have 2009 on the list as well but could be make or break, just needs to show more to put himself ahead of both Byrnes and Djekurra, possibly even Hogan.

 

[BigKegs]

As much as I like seeing glimpses of his talent, he has not done enough when given the opportunity. His greatest asset so far is his defensive pressure but thats about it. He's got the leg speed but thats about it. He shouldn't be delisted this year but how long can you persist with him?

 

[Duskfire]

As much as I like seeing glimpses of his talent, he has not done enough when given the opportunity. His greatest asset so far is his defensive pressure but thats about it. He's got the leg speed but thats about it. He shouldn't be delisted this year but how long can you persist with him?

Going by how long we persisted with Gardiner and Playfair and still persisiting with Tenace, Varcoe is probably safe for a few more years