Toast Travis Varcoe

[Copernicus]

I haven't been able to see the game yet but I'm loving reading this thread. I just hope he keeps improving because he adds another dimension to our team. Let's hope he keeps it up.

 

[meto]

He needs to get his decision making right, sometimes heads off in the wrong direction and seems a bit lost to know what to do with it.

If they've got him playing more as a midfielder now, he needs to get a radar, but open spaces are his best suit, very good return.............24 possessions amongst his best.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Round 8 , General soreness Steve Johnson.

F Stokes Hawkins Byrnes
HF Mooney Pods Varcoe

Quite possibly, given he said he almost didn't play against Richmond.

But that's not a long term solution.

Long term I can't see all three playing in the same side unless:
a) Hawkins is dropped (won't happen)
b) Hawkins becomes the second ruckman (possible)
c) they decide to play the three talls, three smalls, and Chappy more up the ground (possible, but not likely I'd say).

Pressure for spots is a good problem to have though.

 

[Sttew]

Love the shaved head too - makes him look Ablettish

 

[winty]

If Cyril had played the way Trav did today.....

Varcoe has had twice as many goal assists as Cyril this year, and Cyril's played 4 more games.

 

[Vegas.]

Varcoe has had twice as many goal assists as Cyril this year, and Cyril's played 4 more games.

But you forget winty:

Each Rioli possession is worth two possessions from any other player.

 

[darren forssman]

He needs to get his decision making right, sometimes heads off in the wrong direction and seems a bit lost to know what to do with it.

If they've got him playing more as a midfielder now, he needs to get a radar, but open spaces are his best suit, very good return.............24 possessions amongst his best.

we talking about byrnes or varcoe?

 

[Partridge]

Quite possibly, given he said he almost didn't play against Richmond.

But that's not a long term solution.

Long term I can't see all three playing in the same side unless:
a) Hawkins is dropped (won't happen)
b) Hawkins becomes the second ruckman (possible)
c) they decide to play the three talls, three smalls, and Chappy more up the ground (possible, but not likely I'd say).

Pressure for spots is a good problem to have though.

Absolutely. And agreed, I'd love to know how Stokes is going to walk into the team - especially if Byrnes and Varcoe are doing their job (which they both absolutely did on Sunday).

Two tall forwards (Mooney and Hawkins, and now Pods) - check.
Two medium forwards (Johnson and Chappy, plus maybe Duncan) - check.
Two small forwards (Byrnes and Varcoe, plus Ablett) - check.

There's 9 players that either play exclusively in the forward line or will spend time there. Thompson may talk up Stokes all he wants but I fail to see how he barges past these guys. His reserves form has to warrant it too.

 

[Turbocat]

Absolutely. And agreed, I'd love to know how Stokes is going to walk into the team - especially if Byrnes and Varcoe are doing their job (which they both absolutely did on Sunday).

Two tall forwards (Mooney and Hawkins, and now Pods) - check.
Two medium forwards (Johnson and Chappy, plus maybe Duncan) - check.
Two small forwards (Byrnes and Varcoe, plus Ablett) - check.

There's 9 players that either play exclusively in the forward line or will spend time there. Thompson may talk up Stokes all he wants but I fail to see how he barges past these guys. His reserves form has to warrant it too.

No matter Duncan's form , I think Stokes will get his spot if there is no other.

However , Stokes at 25 should be close to his peak , he is being played a lot on the ball in the V's ,so maybe they have midfield plans for him to relieve the other boys.

Generally I have this feeling , Geelong is very conscious of the amount of work they put into their players , almost to the point they are softly, softly experimenting with the baseball rotation of personnel.Is Ablett really that bad? If Stokes can play a role in midfield I wouldn't be surprised to see one week off each for our regulars with GS thru the season.

If they can make it work , it may be the a system that will allow us to transcend the perceived limits that say a side must fall after a period at the top. One can almost see it , how they are slowing training to being less reliant on Milburn and Scarlett this year.

 

[Exhale You]

I'd love to know how Stokes is going to walk into the team

He's going to walk into the team because that's what the coach wants.

We can posture and debate it all we like but the reality is that if Thompson wants him (or anyone else, for that matter) there, he'll be there.

 

[Cohzee]

He needs to get his decision making right, sometimes heads off in the wrong direction and seems a bit lost to know what to do with it.

If they've got him playing more as a midfielder now, he needs to get a radar, but open spaces are his best suit, very good return.............24 possessions amongst his best.

When?

 

[meto]

we talking about byrnes or varcoe?

Probably both, though Byrnsie is more your goal sneak forward.

They both can be wayward with their playmaking.

Wayward?When?
Try last years GF, when he had two targets and went out of bounds. OK, a one off, but has done in the past.
Want to see his second game back against the swans before I start letting off the fireworks.

 

[Vdubs]

He's going to walk into the team because that's what the coach wants.

We can posture and debate it all we like but the reality is that if Thompson wants him (or anyone else, for that matter) there, he'll be there.

he said stuff like that pre GF 09, but look who missed out. The only way Stokes gets in is through injury, general soreness, or Duncan out. Varcoe and Byrnes are IN. Indefinitely it would seem and I hope.

 

[Vdubs]

in stature, or his output?

Stature. But come to mention it, he was well held and walked off with ice over his injured ankle. Seriously, a kid sitting behind us thought Stokes looked way too small to be mixing it with AFL players. Of course he's been that size since we've had him, but he may have even lost some weight with all the stress he's endured.

 

[David the Cat]

Probably both, though Byrnsie is more your goal sneak forward.

They both can be wayward with their playmaking.

Wayward?When?
Try last years GF, when he had two targets and went out of bounds. OK, a one off, but has done in the past.
Want to see his second game back against the swans before I start letting off the fireworks.

Had to pop up on this one meto...I guess you would expect it from me.

Second games in after injury are notoriously difficult, so Varcoe MAY...may...be a little quieter this week. But there was plenty to like about what he did last week. I thought he was superb.

As for being wayward I think thats very harsh. As Geelongs #1 goal assist for season 2009, he cant be asked to do much more in terms of delivery to forwards and the lace out delivery he provided to Mooney and Johnson last week was a pleasure to behold. His foot skills are superior to most.

I recall your biggest criticism of TV in the past was he didnt get enough of the ball. I think that was fair enough, though I think his class was obvious and he just needed a little patience and a bit more strength to reach the heights he is clearly capable of.

To now suggest he is "wayward" at times and supporting the contention by raising an isolated "out of bounds" result from making a poor decision is very unfair. Every player makes those errors at some time...eg I saw Gary Ablett handball to a team mate under pressure three weeks ago leading to a turnover and goal...

Anyway....Varcoe doesnt need me to convince you...he'll do it himself over the next few weeks. Sit back and enjoy.

 

[DanA]

No.1 player for Geelong for goal assists and reall his best attribute is the defensive pressure and turnovers he causes. Without a doubt his two weaknesses were ability to find the ball and strength on a contested ball situation. It's his improvement in those two areas which has me excited. It's a trend which occurred throughout preseason games too.

Varcoe could be everything Aaron Davey was supposed to be.

 

[Asty]

Varcoe could be everything Aaron Davey was supposed to be.

I always thought something similar but substituted Aaron Davey's name with Daniel Wells.

 

[Cattery]

From someone who's been a critic of Varcoe in the past, glad to be able to say he was excellent on Sunday.

Have to look at it in perspective though, the game was nothing more then a glorified training run; don't like to knock a team when it's down [ unless it's Hawthorn ] but the side Richmond fielded was substandard in nearly every facet, and the pressure applied on the cats was non existent.

If he can reproduce Sundays form [ or near it ] over the next three weeks when we play "real" football teams, and the pressure will be on from start to finish, he'll have gone a long way toward converting me.

 

[SJ]

No.1 player for Geelong for goal assists and reall his best attribute is the defensive pressure and turnovers he causes. Without a doubt his two weaknesses were ability to find the ball and strength on a contested ball situation. It's his improvement in those two areas which has me excited. It's a trend which occurred throughout preseason games too.

Varcoe could be everything Aaron Davey was supposed to be.

Fair go with Davey, absolute star in a terrible team.

 

[theCATSfromHELL]

Fair go with Davey, absolute star in a terrible team.

Agreed.

At any other club he would chop to an incredible extent.

Varcoe was awesome on the weekend. 9 score assists is just ridiculous. 10 weeks time and he will be tearing apart games with moments of absolute Varcoe magik/brilliance.

I'm excited!

 

[meto]

Had to pop up on this one meto...I guess you would expect it from me.

Second games in after injury are notoriously difficult, so Varcoe MAY...may...be a little quieter this week. But there was plenty to like about what he did last week. I thought he was superb.

As for being wayward I think thats very harsh. As Geelongs #1 goal assist for season 2009, he cant be asked to do much more in terms of delivery to forwards and the lace out delivery he provided to Mooney and Johnson last week was a pleasure to behold. His foot skills are superior to most.

I recall your biggest criticism of TV in the past was he didnt get enough of the ball. I think that was fair enough, though I think his class was obvious and he just needed a little patience and a bit more strength to reach the heights he is clearly capable of.

To now suggest he is "wayward" at times and supporting the contention by raising an isolated "out of bounds" result from making a poor decision is very unfair. Every player makes those errors at some time...eg I saw Gary Ablett handball to a team mate under pressure three weeks ago leading to a turnover and goal...

Anyway....Varcoe doesnt need me to convince you...he'll do it himself over the next few weeks. Sit back and enjoy.

Dave,

Pretty well written up, I'm hoping he has another big imput next week, believe me, seriously!

Just hoping he keeps this pro-active attitude he displayed last week.
I do believe he'll benefit from the Pods, Mooney and Hawkins trio, reckon they'll draw alot of pressure away from the smalls allowing them extra freedom they otherwise mightn't get.
And provide optional targets for the likes of Trav.
By the way, where was he actually playing last Sunday, wing HFF?
I'm really hoping his added maturity and extra physical development sees him properly realising his acclaimed great talent.
I do believe its there. And that one in the Granny(clanger), I did say it was a one off, so I did cut him some slack.

 

[OldStyle2007]

Varcoe is only going to get better. He's on the way to becoming a genuine star.

I think he's already on a par with Ronnie Burns as the best indigenous player for the GFC since Polly Farmer. And if he keeps improving like I think he will, he may even surpass Polly one day

Unfortunately for him he can't aim to be the best ever to wear the number 5. He'll just have to settle for being the second best

 

[Copernicus]

Varcoe is only going to get better. He's on the way to becoming a genuine star.

I think he's already on a par with Ronnie Burns as the best indigenous player for the GFC since Polly Farmer. And if he keeps improving like I think he will, he may even surpass Polly one day

Unfortunately for him he can't aim to be the best ever to wear the number 5. He'll just have to settle for being the second best

I dunno about that. Farmer was the primary reason for our flag in 1963. Completely different players though, hard to really compare them. There's a reason Farmer is captain of the Indigenous team of the century.

 

[Cohzee]

I dunno about that. Farmer was the primary reason for our flag in 1963. Completely different players though, hard to really compare them. There's a reason Farmer is captain of the Indigenous team of the century.

Also named in the Team of the Century.

 

[David the Cat]

Varcoe is only going to get better. He's on the way to becoming a genuine star.

I think he's already on a par with Ronnie Burns as the best indigenous player for the GFC since Polly Farmer. And if he keeps improving like I think he will, he may even surpass Polly one day

Unfortunately for him he can't aim to be the best ever to wear the number 5. He'll just have to settle for being the second best

Now there's no bigger fan of Travis than me, but this is a very big call indeed. Polly wasnt just a great player...he changed the game forever. Absolute legend...up there with EJ and Barassi.

and second best? Well..Polly wore 5, Gary Snr and Junior wore 5.... I think Trav would be happy to mentioned in the same breath as those players.

Nevertheless, I think he could be a superb player for us...how good is to be seen. I think he's the best indigenous player in the AFL right now though...( eat that up Hawk flogs)