Steele Sidebottom V Travis Varcoe

[Heater39]

Varcoe's faster and probably has a more penetrating kick, other than that Sidebottom has him covered. Sidebottom easily.

 

[Claude Balls]

To be honest, I think I'd rather Sidebottom in the scheme of things.

Varcoe clearly has him covered for pace, kicking and creativity, but for Sidebottom to do what he did in the finals last year, in only his second year, suggests he will become a great player indeed. Will win more contested posessions and possesions in general, than Varcoe.

 

[ksardog]

sidebottom wreeks of class, will be a rolls royce of our midfield for the next ten years. great at reading the drop of the ball , creates space for himself in tight situations and most importantly has got football smarts. Varcoe is a more explosive style of burst player and is getting better with each year and i think will really improve going into the midfield this year in abletts absence. but as only bruce can say sidebottom is SPECIAL.

 

[the distributer]

To be honest, I think I'd rather Sidebottom in the scheme of things.

Varcoe clearly has him covered for pace, kicking and creativity, but for Sidebottom to do what he did in the finals last year, in only his second year, suggests he will become a great player indeed. Will win more contested posessions and possesions in general, than Varcoe.

disagree with that, sidebottom is very creative, and as for kicking it's only penetration varcoe would have the edge in, sidebottom is a very good kick, maybe you havnt seen enough of steele.

 

[Richo83]

Sidebottom. Younger and has impressed on the big stage more.

 

[Hoops]

You would have to say Steele.

One of the things I love about TV is his ability to cleanly gather the ball at his feet on the half volley whilst running full pace. it's sweet to watch.

 

[Claude Balls]

disagree with that, sidebottom is very creative, and as for kicking it's only penetration varcoe would have the edge in, sidebottom is a very good kick, maybe you havnt seen enough of steele.

I know Sidebottom is creative, I just feel Varcoe is particularly so. As for kicking, perhaps I'm not qualified to compare. Varcoe never misses a target though.

 

[Vinnie Vegas]

I know Sidebottom is creative, I just feel Varcoe is particularly so. As for kicking, perhaps I'm not qualified to compare. Varcoe never misses a target though.

Sidebottom is a great kick, and exceptionally dual sided - He uses either foot for any variety of kicks without hesitation.

See his left footed bullet to Darren Jolly for a goal in the GF for an example (clip is at 2:55)

[YOUTUBE]72pSNHuo_jU#t=2m55s[/YOUTUBE]

 

[Lunchlady Doris]

Sidebottom is a great kick, and exceptionally dual sided - He uses either foot for any variety of kicks without hesitation.

See his left footed bullet to Darren Jolly for a goal in the GF for an example (clip is at 2:55)

[youtube]72pSNHuo_jU#t=2m55s[/youtube]

Pfft absolute miskick. Or did he want to spot up Jolly 1m to the right of his ankle? Right where a ruckman wants it

 

[Vinnie Vegas]

Jolly overran it - He kept going to the side. If he'd kept running straight at Steele, as the kicker would assume a leading player is going to, the kick would have been right on his chest.

As it stands, despite the miscommunication, the wrong-footed kick was still good enough to set up a goal.

 

[Lunchlady Doris]

Jolly overran it - He kept going to the side. If he'd kept running straight at Steele, as the kicker would assume a leading player is going to, the kick would have been right on his chest.

As it stands, despite the miscommunication, the wrong-footed kick was still good enough to set up a goal.

That's a pretty massive assumption.

Surely there's some true highlight video for this guy out there?

 

[Vinnie Vegas]

That's a pretty massive assumption.

Surely there's some true highlight video for this guy out there?

Not really.

This isn't a highlight video - It's just a clip with most of what he did in his BOG performance in 2009's SF against Adelaide.

[YOUTUBE]5OHV8oAlFKk[/YOUTUBE]

 

[Lunchlady Doris]

I think the creator missed a part where he scratched his nuts particularly vigorously.

Never seen a clip which doesn't show 90% of his possessions hitting a target. Lots of easy receives in space though. Hope he didn't end all those possession chains.

 

[Vinnie Vegas]

I think the creator missed a part where he scratched his nuts particularly vigorously.

Never seen a clip which doesn't show 90% of his possessions hitting a target. Lots of easy receives in space though. Hope he didn't end all those possession chains.

Again though, that's just pretty much everything that he did in that game - It's not made to flatter him or anything.

Mars II just uploaded a few of his better goals by request:

[youtube]DVdw5IYOc6c[/youtube]

[youtube]InG55lbbyhA[/youtube]

[youtube]TZJppNYIi5E[/youtube]

[youtube]wdgYi-_eL_M[/youtube]

[youtube]6_YUXNnIZGI[/youtube]

The thing about Sidebottom though, is that his ability to read the pack and kick crumbing goals is just icing - The cake is his ability to read the play, his persistence, his ball-winning ability, his strength overhead and his skilled and creative use of the ball.

As they both spend more and more time in the midfield, the difference between him and Varcoe as a player will grow significantly - Sidebottom is a natural ball-winner, and in his two year career, he's already bettered Varcoe's career high in possessions over a five year career four times, with scarcely any more midfield time, and a team that plays a much lower possession gameplan.

Varcoe has him for pace, and probably nudges him for skill and creativity, but Sidebottom's intangibles make him a closer comparison with a young Jimmy Bartel, or someone of that ilk. His role has kept him from doing much inside work, but he's had games with 4-5 clearances on multiple occasions.

 

[mdc]

his strength overhead

His what? Was with you until then, but his overhead marking is his biggest weakness. Maybe he was good at TAC level, but he's been repeatedly thrashed in marking contests in the AFL...not that it's any blight on him, he's 5"11, skinny and can't jump.

But yeah, on the whole SS comfortably.

 

[Lunchlady Doris]

Again though, that's just pretty much everything that he did in that game - It's not made to flatter him or anything.

Good, because it sure doesn't. Lots of possessions for very little result.

The thing about Sidebottom though, is that his ability to read the pack and kick crumbing goals is just icing - The cake is his ability to read the play, his persistence, his ball-winning ability, his strength overhead and his skilled and creative use of the ball.

Sure, all nice and fluffy, forgive me if I don't put a lot of stock in it. You've just thrown the kitchen sink at him, and as mdc has already pointed out, you seem to be prone to exaggeration.

As they both spend more and more time in the midfield, the difference between him and Varcoe as a player will grow significantly - Sidebottom is a natural ball-winner, and in his two year career, he's already bettered Varcoe's career high in possessions over a five year career four times, with scarcely any more midfield time, and a team that plays a much lower possession gameplan.

Varcoe has him for pace, and probably nudges him for skill and creativity, but Sidebottom's intangibles make him a closer comparison with a young Jimmy Bartel, or someone of that ilk. His role has kept him from doing much inside work, but he's had games with 4-5 clearances on multiple occasions.

We'll see eh? Nice of you to stop the 'Varcoe has pace and that's it' stuff though.

Steele had 1 game of 5 clearances last year, and 0 games of 4.

 

[mdc]

LD, out of curiosity where did Varcoe finish in your B&F this year?

 

[Richo83]

Here's the thing though, Varcoe is according to wiki 2 years and 9 months older than Sidebottom. He's been in a top team so he's hardly been monstered, has played 76 games so he's had opportunities to shine, and yet Sidebottom has shown more in less games and at a much lesser age. I think most neutrals would accept that Sidebottom is the much more exciting prospect, that might change. But currently? I take frontbum. Sorry cats fans, but it's the truth.

 

[Lunchlady Doris]

LD, out of curiosity where did Varcoe finish in your B&F this year?

No idea, but comparing different players in different teams in different B&F counts is foolhardy imo.

 

[PieNSauce]

I'm struggling to find a valid way to compare them fairly so obviously I've voted for Steele. Truth is they're very different players and I'd have either of them in my side.

 

[Lunchlady Doris]

Here's the thing though, Varcoe is according to wiki 2 years and 9 months older than Sidebottom. He's been in a top team so he's hardly been monstered, has played 76 games so he's had opportunities to shine, and yet Sidebottom has shown more in less games and at a much lesser age. I think most neutrals would accept that Sidebottom is the much more exciting prospect, that might change. But currently? I take frontbum. Sorry cats fans, but it's the truth.

What has he shown? In both PFs I watched Cats v Pies over the last 2 years, Varcoe has been much better. The 09 PF I remember Sidebottom was particularly bad.

In fact extend that to both H&A matches this year, the Cats win Varcoe was better, the Pies win Varcoe was better.

Is this all from his apparently outstanding game in the GF replay walkover? Sure he gets the ball more at the moment, but Varcoe leads in goals and assists, so that might have something to do with field position.

 

[Vinnie Vegas]

Is this all from his apparently outstanding game in the GF replay walkover?

He was outstanding in the draw as well. He was also excellent against the Bulldogs, and BOG against Adelaide in the finals the year before.

He's consistently proven to be a quality performer in finals, and he's only just turned 20.

Don't act as though he's supposed to have shown more than Varcoe to date, when Varcoe has had three years longer on an AFL list. If you compare Sidebottom's second year to Varcoe's second year, it's a joke.

 

[Rioli magic]

Don't act as though he's supposed to have shown more than Varcoe to date, when Varcoe has had three years longer on an AFL list. If you compare Sidebottom's second year to Varcoe's second year, it's a joke.

This poll is about who you would prefer going forward. There's not doubt Sidebottom has had the better introduction to footy, but it wouldn't be much of a poll if was who had the better 2nd season.

Sidebottom has burst out of the blocks, while Varcoe took a bit longer for a number of reasons including form. As it stands I think they both have similiar standing in their respective teams, and both will be looking to move up the pecking order and into the midifeld more.

IMO Varcoe has Sidebottom covered for skills and pace, while Sidebottom has better nous and seems like he'll be more consistent. Overall I don't think the gap is as large as some supporters suggest where attributes are exaggerated positively for their player and negatively for the other.

 

[Richo83]

What has he shown? In both PFs I watched Cats v Pies over the last 2 years, Varcoe has been much better. The 09 PF I remember Sidebottom was particularly bad.

In fact extend that to both H&A matches this year, the Cats win Varcoe was better, the Pies win Varcoe was better.

Ahh yes, in Sidebottom's first year he struggled in a final, a final in which his whole team did the same. This is cherry picking, and ignores the many other games in which Sidebottom starred. It also ignores many of the flat games which Varcoe has had, including many in his first and second years (you know, those years which Sidebottom just went through in 09 and 10?). And I dearly hope that you don't only watch Sidebottom play when he plays your mob, because that would kinda... you know... discredit your opinion entirely. To evaluate a player based on their performances against one club is stupid.

Is this all from his apparently outstanding game in the GF replay walkover? Sure he gets the ball more at the moment, but Varcoe leads in goals and assists, so that might have something to do with field position.

Given Varcoe is nearly three years his older and plays the X factor goal-creating role, this is hardly surprising. And no, I'm not basing my opinion merely on the GF walkover, I'm basing it on a general trend over the past two years when a player, barely 20 yo has a starring role in a top side. Something which Varcoe never did at Sidebottom's age.

 

[Lunchlady Doris]

He was outstanding in the draw as well. He was also excellent against the Bulldogs, and BOG against Adelaide in the finals the year before.

He's consistently proven to be a quality performer in finals, and he's only just turned 20.

The things he did in that clip of the Adelaide game had him as BOG? Why do we only see 3 or 4 of his disposals hit targets?

As I said he was rubbish in the PF against the Cats in 09, and quiet in 10.

Lucky he's had lots of chance I guess.

Don't act as though he's supposed to have shown more than Varcoe to date, when Varcoe has had three years longer on an AFL list. If you compare Sidebottom's second year to Varcoe's second year, it's a joke.

I'm not acting thy at all. In the grand scheme of things, a players first few years don't really matter. If they go on to have good careers, no one cares if they didn't have 20 touches a match in their first few seasons.

A Selwood smashing it from their first season doesn't happen very often. And a great first couple of years doesn't guarantee a great career either.

This poll is about who you would prefer going forward. There's not doubt Sidebottom has had the better introduction to footy, but it wouldn't be much of a poll if was who had the better 2nd season.

Sidebottom has burst out of the blocks, while Varcoe took a bit longer for a number of reasons including form. As it stands I think they both have similiar standing in their respective teams, and both will be looking to move up the pecking order and into the midifeld more.

IMO Varcoe has Sidebottom covered for skills and pace, while Sidebottom has better nous and seems like he'll be more consistent. Overall I don't think the gap is as large as some supporters suggest where attributes are exaggerated positively for their player and negatively for the other.

I'd agree with that I think.