Opinion Travis Varcoe

[FredLeDeux]

The reason number of games played comes into it is that it indicates whether or not you can expect a player to improve, and how much. We wouldn't crucify Bews if he followed up his great debut with a sub par second game, because he's new to AFL level football, Travis Varcoe is not. You can get away with playing cameos and showing flash early on in your career because it's expected that consistency comes with maturity. However it reaches a point of diminishing returns, where the investment in games where you don't fully contribute to the side is no longer worth the potential to be a gun. Stokes was getting to that point then he completely turned his career around. Can Varcoe do that, I'm not convinced, partially because he's clearly treated with kid gloves by the match committee.

It's worth noting that at the outset of his career he was also treated with kid gloves and received a much longer no-return run - at least 2 full years in 2007/08 - than any other player I can think of in recent years; far longer even than the much maligned Blicavs.

 

[Vdubs]

It's worth noting that at the outset of his career he was also treated with kid gloves and received a much longer no-return run - at least 2 full years in 2007/08 - than any other player I can think of in recent years; far longer even than the much maligned Blicavs.

Sure, and then missed the 07 finals series?!
He clearly has talent, is clearly inconsistent.
How do we know that one of his roles, apart from outside gut running and link up play, is to attract a key tagger and keep him out of the game somewhat- super decoy- it has been suggested before.

 

[BUSTER29]

Show me any game from 2007-2014 where Varcoe has been tagged.

 

[Vdubs]

Show me any game from 2007-2014 where Varcoe has been tagged.

Well that settles that idea then.

 

[FredLeDeux]

Sure, and then missed the 07 finals series?!
He clearly has talent, is clearly inconsistent.
How do we know that one of his roles, apart from outside gut running and link up play, is to attract a key tagger and keep him out of the game somewhat- super decoy- it has been suggested before.

I've seen it suggested as a possible role, but not as something that has actually happened; and I'm pretty sure that if it had happened, one of his supporters would have mentioned it.
The biggest problem I see with the idea is persuading the opposition to bother.

 

[Vdubs]

I've seen it suggested as a possible role, but not as something that has actually happened; and I'm pretty sure that if it had happened, one of his supporters would have mentioned it.
The biggest problem I see with the idea is persuading the opposition to bother.

I just did.

 

[allrighty]

Well that settles that idea then.

I'm done. Plenty of upside but not consistent enough which is sad.

 

[Partridge]

It's worth noting that at the outset of his career he was also treated with kid gloves and received a much longer no-return run - at least 2 full years in 2007/08 - than any other player I can think of in recent years; far longer even than the much maligned Blicavs.

Blicavs will catch him the way he's going. He's on 30 games now and it's not even the halfway mark. Nothing surer that he'll get two full seasons.

 

[FredLeDeux]

I just did.

You didn't, you know.

 

[Vdubs]

You didn't, you know.

I actually did raise the super-decoy idea last time this came up- well that could be any year that the polarising TV has played, but it was in 2011.

But, as has been said, he isn't a recipient of any taggers that come to mind, and Neon Leon in 2011 GF was hardly your prototype tagger.

 

[allrighty]

The issue I have had with TV for his entire career is the blind handball when he feels the heat. I have always thought he is a much better player than this panic type reaction. He still does it, trouble is he is not getting into the game as much now and is still doing it.

Compare to SJ - if he's doing plenty and stuffs up occasionally (without getting reported FFS GRRRRR) it's Ok. If he's doing not much and stuffs up occasionally it's more like dog's balls. If you are not getting the pill much then when you do you have to ace it.

 

[Vdubs]

The issue I have had with TV for his entire career is the blind handball when he feels the heat. I have always thought he is a much better player than this panic type reaction. He still does it, trouble is he is not getting into the game as much now and is still doing it.

Compare to SJ - if he's doing plenty and stuffs up occasionally (without getting reported FFS GRRRRR) it's Ok. If he's doing not much and stuffs up occasionally it's more like dog's balls. If you are not getting the pill much then when you do you have to ace it.

One way to look at it.
I see that as one of his strengths, the lightning quick reflex handball that can set up something special, eg GF 2009. Problem now is, some players are not quick enough to be appropriately receptive.

 

[FredLeDeux]

One way to look at it.
I see that as one of his strengths, the lightning quick reflex handball that can set up something special, eg GF 2009. Problem now is, some players are not quick enough to be appropriately receptive.

We're agreed on that, the quick handball was definitely a strength when he was on song and getting it right.

 

[Vdubs]

We're agreed on that, the quick handball was definitely a strength when he was on song and getting it right.

If we look really closely, he still does it. Commentators often don't get to do what they are paid to do which is call all the moves, but as I am very defensive about TV, I do study a lot of his movements in the game, and they are there to be seen. Quick, slick, almost not noticeable, but definitely still working.

 

[BlakeyNoFlakey]

If we look really closely, he still does it. Commentators often don't get to do what they are paid to do which is call all the moves, but as I am very defensive about TV, I do study a lot of his movements in the game, and they are there to be seen. Quick, slick, almost not noticeable, but definitely still working.

Honestly I think you're too subjective about Travis, and therefore your opinions are too biased to listen to.

 

[FredLeDeux]

If we look really closely, he still does it. Commentators often don't get to do what they are paid to do which is call all the moves, but as I am very defensive about TV, I do study a lot of his movements in the game, and they are there to be seen. Quick, slick, almost not noticeable, but definitely still working.

OK, I accept that, I just haven't watched him as closely as that, we all watch the ones we love, or about whom we're more defensive as you put it.
And I don't want there to be any mistake about it, I'm fully aware of what Varcoe at his brilliant best can bring to the table; as, I think, are most of his (serious, sensible) critics.

 

[Vdubs]

Honestly I think you're too subjective about Travis, and therefore your opinions are too biased to listen to.

That's how I am Blakey. Subjective, but a little objective too. Try it- ie study his every movement one match while he's still in.

 

[darren forssman]

And I don't want there to be any mistake about it, I'm fully aware of what Varcoe at his brilliant best can bring to the table; as, I think, are most of his (serious, sensible) critics.

subtle.

 

[darren forssman]

If we look really closely, he still does it. Commentators often don't get to do what they are paid to do which is call all the moves, but as I am very defensive about TV, I do study a lot of his movements in the game, and they are there to be seen. Quick, slick, almost not noticeable, but definitely still working.

or drilling a 40m pass to a forward, maybe once upon a time this was the case...nowadays he is handpassing/kicking the ball like a hot potato as soon as he gets it.

 

[Vdubs]

or drilling a 40m pass to a forward, maybe once upon a time this was the case...nowadays he is handpassing/kicking the ball like a hot potato as soon as he gets it.

Maybe the ball is a lot hotter than it used to be for multiple reasons, not all TV's doing.

 

[BlakeyNoFlakey]

That's how I am Blakey. Subjective, but a little objective too. Try it- ie study his every movement one match while he's still in.

You're about as objective as his mum is

 

[Vdubs]

You're about as objective as his mum is

I'm hopeless about lots of players at Geelong, for sure.
It p's me off more than you would know if those guys don't make it, and I've had plenty that haven't.
I don't need to come out with my list of failures. Just that I honestly see Varcoe as important in our ailing team.

 

[FredLeDeux]

subtle.

Just FYI, I was not necessarily excluding from that category the person you probably (maybe) have in mind, because I think much of what he says has a sensible basis; I just think he often over-reacts to people who diss his views without arguing them on their merits.

 

[darren forssman]

Just FYI, I was not necessarily excluding from that category the person you probably (maybe) have in mind, because I think much of what he says has a sensible basis; I just think he often over-reacts to people who diss his views without arguing them on their merits.

"they" often overreact to people who agree with them, as you have found at times....their view is like wanting a leopard to lose their spots.

 

[darren forssman]

Maybe the ball is a lot hotter than it used to be for multiple reasons, not all TV's doing.

no, often he is not under much, if any, pressure....he just doesnt want the ball (could be psychological due to injuries or that miss in the prelim, who knows).