Travis Varcoe

[Partridge]

Re: Calls for Varcoe to be dropped

Eradicated?
There's a difference between suggesting perhaps a player needs to go back to the reserves and rushing to the PC to gloat over a poor performance whilst doing internet cartwheels at the fact one was 'right'.

My issue isn't about Travis, at all, it's about the minority who take a dislike to one of our players and subsequently take every opportunity to not only go 'ner ner i was right' but also mercilessly attack the player whenever they believe he's performed poorly.
We saw it with Shan Shan, we saw it with Andrew Mackie and now we're seeing it with Trav and from where i sit it's horribly poor form and pretty distasteful.

I wouldn't say it's gloating at all. I'd say it's supporters who dared to question his place in the side a while ago, were howled down by some who can't tolerate any criticism of him, and have since been proven right. There's nothing wrong with pointing that out.

More relevantly, he hasn't gotten any better on the field. That insipid marking effort wasn't much better than Davey's a few weeks ago, it just escaped the attention. I do know I'm fed up with the unending excuses made for him. Every other player in the side has to earn their spot, but apparently he doesn't. Duncan almost got knocked out but showed sufficient toughness and durability to come back on the field and make a contribution.

I can't see him being dropped though, if Scott was willing to do that (like he did with Hawkins, correctly too) it would've happened already. Just hope he can start working harder and improving.

 

[Byron2008]

Re: Calls for Varcoe to be dropped

Such a shame.... I really thought he was going to be a star this year...

It wasn't long ago that people were starting to rate him higher than Cyril Rioli... Not agreeing with that by way, but still he was really showing some great signs.

 

[meto]

Re: Calls for Varcoe to be dropped

Possible but I think unlikely.

He occasionally shows a burst of speed like the run (were he miss bounced it) and the way he turned and kicked to Menzel you'd expect would be a problem for a player with OP.

I just think with the off season surgery he didn't get enough work in and is suffering because of it.

I thought Johnson cleaned up the mess before Menzel recieved the ball, anyway, anyone would have a little zipp left, if they'd done nothing all match, like he had.
The guy's a dropkick, just get someone in there with a bit of heart!
Never seen so many excuses made for a player at any club.
Don't you Varcoe fanatics want to see this club succeed???

If some of you think it correct for Hawkins to be dropped then remember, that week Hawk had 12 possessions, better than your Varcoe's had for 3-4 weeks, so by your own standards he should be dropped.
At least Hawks willing to get into packs.

 

[meto]

Re: Calls for Varcoe to be dropped

Weston? Been back for one game after a long injury break...but yea bring him in....**** bring anyone in...please.....anyone....ANYONE.....

Well! Don't you claim poor old Varks must be carrying an injury, you know, that explains his timidity??

Prefer even Weston underdone than that crap, yeah, for sure!
Who needs more of the Varks show!

 

[CatFan79]

Re: Calls for Varcoe to be dropped

General soreness but not too sore that he can't play 2's.

Are players that precious these days that they can't simply be dropped..

And a winning streak is no excuse, Varcoe should have made way for Christensen last week and I don't know how anyone could justify otherwise.

 

[Exhale You]

Re: Calls for Varcoe to be dropped

I'd say it's supporters who dared to question his place in the side a while ago, were howled down by some who can't tolerate any criticism of him, and have since been proven right. There's nothing wrong with pointing that out.

.........over and over again (and then a few more times for good measure)?

It's obvious that a number of posters take great satisfaction about their belief that they're right and refuse to let an opportunity pass to continue to not only sink the boot in but to shout from the rooftops about how 'right' they were.

As i said previously, it happened with Mackie, it happened with Byrnes and it's happening with Varcoe and it isn't getting any more classy or graceful.

More relevantly, he hasn't gotten any better on the field. That insipid marking effort wasn't much better than Davey's a few weeks ago, it just escaped the attention.

I've already said i believe he needs to back to find some form so i'm sure why you're continuing to argue as if i want him made captain.

Just hope he can start working harder and improving.

Is it worth then being 'proven wrong'?

 

[PatrickBateman]

Re: Calls for Varcoe to be dropped

While this is a no-brainer, suspensions and injury are keeping him in the team. His general laziness and obvious lack of effort is not good for the team though. I noticed Varcoe's team mates not opt to use him/kick to him, which is just bad.

Playing a guy week after week who shouldn't be there rubs off badly on the other players, favouritism starts being discussed. They are human don't forget. His sustained AFL selection is Scott's only real weakness so far for mine. It's bad for Varcoe and bad for the club.

 

[bobbycatsfanme]

Re: Calls for Varcoe to be dropped

geez that's a bit tough isn't Patrick
I guess he's not firing just yet but we are seeing glimpses of it...that run through the midfield where he burned a couple of players then recollected the ball and passed it off resulting into a Lingy goal I believe is what we will be seeing a little more as the week's go by. Still too good to drop imo and apart from either Motlop, Christensen, Cowan or Guthrie (perhaps Burbury) then why drop him when he needs to be getting fitness playing against the best? There have been numerous calls for Lonergan or Mackie to be dropped but they answered the critics and am pretty confident Varcoe will also do the same. He's such a freakish player but because he's playing in a great side then outsiders and insiders tend to find a few weak links but in my opinion he only needs 7 or 10 touches to totally turn a game on it's head.

 

[PatrickBateman]

Re: Calls for Varcoe to be dropped

geez that's a bit tough isn't Patrick
I guess he's not firing just yet but we are seeing glimpses of it...that run through the midfield where he burned a couple of players then recollected the ball and passed it off resulting into a Lingy goal I believe is what we will be seeing a little more as the week's go by. Still too good to drop imo and apart from either Motlop, Christensen, Cowan or Guthrie (perhaps Burbury) then why drop him when he needs to be getting fitness playing against the best? There have been numerous calls for Lonergan or Mackie to be dropped but they answered the critics and am pretty confident Varcoe will also do the same. He's such a freakish player but because he's playing in a great side then outsiders and insiders tend to find a few weak links but in my opinion he only needs 7 or 10 touches to totally turn a game on it's head.

I can tell you now, the only thing that is keeping him in the team is our winning streak. His effort has been totally unacceptable. I don't know how you can brush aside his lack of trying because he can do 1 or 2 good looking things in a game. He doesn't do the fundamental team things well, there are NO excuses for that. If you've been in any sort of club/team before you'll understand how badly this rubs off on others.

When you give a guy 11 games to gain confidence/form whatever you call it and he fails, the writing is on the wall. It's bad for his career and the clubs performance going forward to keep playing him. Time in the VFL is likely to re-invigorate him, which would be the best result. He's way off AFL standard at the moment... that is indisputable.

 

[bobbycatsfanme]

Re: Calls for Varcoe to be dropped

fair enough

again just happy Scott is coaching the team

 

[mwt5150]

Re: Calls for Varcoe to be dropped

I noticed that too.
I wonder if he is playing a role never seen before. And I'm serious. And it sounds incredibly dumb. But is there a possibility he is playing a void filler role.

i.e. he just keep doing laps non stop. Fills space. Makes an opponent stick with him therefor reducing the backs to five.

I don't know. It sounds dumb just typing it. But it's what he is doing. And if he doesn't get dropped then maybe..............

If that is the case that's a sad indictment on where the game is evolving, that players are just put in, not to stop good opposition, as a tagger does, but specifically to drag players away from the play.

That said, I dont believe any of this "decoy runner" crap for a second. Unless Trav is under strict instructions to miss tackles and look like he doesn't give a stuff for extended periods, then he needs a rest.

Given I'm in the US and never see VFL highlights I cant speak of guys like Weston or even Shag's form, but blokes like Christensen/Cowan who I have watched this year play like they want a spot, and will take their whack when needed to earn it. Too often Trav is gliding around like he deserves to be there regardless of how he plays.

Injuries/suspensions/team harmony may keep him around another week, but the ice is surely as thin as its ever been.

 

[you pick one]

Re: Calls for Varcoe to be dropped

While this is a no-brainer, suspensions and injury are keeping him in the team. His general laziness and obvious lack of effort is not good for the team though. I noticed Varcoe's team mates not opt to use him/kick to him, which is just bad.

Playing a guy week after week who shouldn't be there rubs off badly on the other players, favouritism starts being discussed. They are human don't forget. His sustained AFL selection is Scott's only real weakness so far for mine. It's bad for Varcoe and bad for the club.

Joel Corey running through the center, spots Vacoe free streaming down the wing, thought about it and said no way,I saw that.

 

[meto]

Re: Calls for Varcoe to be dropped

Joel Corey running through the center, spots Vacoe free streaming down the wing, thought about it and said no way,I saw that.

I saw that as well! I remember thinking, good on you Joel do something with it yourselves rather than giving him another freebie, I reckon he was thinking the same.

 

[vinum coupe]

Re: Calls for Varcoe to be dropped

Jesus Meto. If a player runs hard to get into position to receive the ball I don't know how it is a freebie.
I guess we should stop giving freebies to Pods.

 

[hbk_aus]

Re: Calls for Varcoe to be dropped

I saw that as well! I remember thinking, good on you Joel do something with it yourselves rather than giving him another freebie, I reckon he was thinking the same.

As bad as Varcoe has been going, i highly doubt Joel Corey would be as unprofessional as to ignore an option because the target hadnt been working hard enough. Bit of a slight on JC's character actually.

 

[Pollywaffle]

Re: Calls for Varcoe to be dropped

Though I have only watched games on TV Varcoe Has appeared uncommited much of the time.
I have noticed over the years that the indigenous guys do seem to go through these sorts of periods, where they drop off in intensity and seem disinterested. May be some behind the scenes family/relationship stuff or just a general trait.
Look at brilliant guys like Daniel wells , Johncock.,Leon Davis, Davey. The list goes on. ....even Rioli had a bad patch there for a while All have gone missing for long periods only to return to elite form at some point
Question is: how do we manage this Do we let Varcoe ride out whatever it is that has nobbled him in the seniors or give him a rocket and stick him in the twos to get his head right?
No doubt we need his explosive run and carry to help our gamestyle, but patience may be wearing thin. Unless there are factors behind the scenes that we are not aware of.

 

[TheHonestyPolicy]

Re: Calls for Varcoe to be dropped

I guess that just leaves sexual orientation to discuss?!

I am sure some in here are well meaning, just as others arent well meaning at all and it wouldnt surprise if they werent actually Cat fans.

Ironic we played the Saints in a way. Paul Roos summed their season up perfectly. Their best players are out of form this season. Reiwoldt, Goddard even Montagna who was AA not that long ago?? or in that category at least. Weird, theyre all more experienced than Trav and theyre white too (sexual orientations aside!!)

Maybe we dont need to look further than a poor pre-season and a change of game plan snow-balling into a lack of confidence which always tends to look like a lack of effort and intent at the football no matter who you are.

I trust the coaches to get it right. Ironically again Trav is one of only a few guys to played every game this year. I dont subscribe to the notion we win every game this year and thats all thats saved him. He is contributing, whether as VC suggests its plugging holes no one else can get to, or its his line breaking runs as infrequent as they have been recently, it all seems to add up to him getting picked. Right or wrong thats how it is and I think musing over his personal life, culture or proclivities out of footy wont help anyone particularly the most important person in this equation to start playing better soon.

 

[Copernicus]

Re: Calls for Varcoe to be dropped

I feel like a broken record, but he needs to be dropped this week. Bring in Cowan, Christensen, whoever. He needs to bloody well earn his spot, and right now he is not playing with desire or really much application at all aside from the odd run through the middle.

 

[Ninty]

Re: Calls for Varcoe to be dropped

I think he'll keep his spot just because Stokes and J Hunt have been suspended, with other possible outs Bartel, Duncan, Kelly, Milburn.... But if he doesn't perform this week, watch out next week... Surely.

 

[vinum coupe]

Re: Calls for Varcoe to be dropped

I agree Ninty.
If there is a bunch of guys out this week our side is starting to reach the threshold where you can't win.

It's ok to have kids in the team but at some stage (6,7,8 kids) the side won't hold it together.

In fact if we lose Bartel, Hunt, Stokes, Hawkins, Mooney, Byrnes, Duncan, Milburn, Kelly, Varcoe, and Selwood there are a lot of teams that would beat us this week.

 

[Partridge]

Re: Calls for Varcoe to be dropped

Though I have only watched games on TV Varcoe Has appeared uncommited much of the time.
I have noticed over the years that the indigenous guys do seem to go through these sorts of periods, where they drop off in intensity and seem disinterested. May be some behind the scenes family/relationship stuff or just a general trait.
Look at brilliant guys like Daniel wells , Johncock.,Leon Davis, Davey. The list goes on. ....even Rioli had a bad patch there for a while All have gone missing for long periods only to return to elite form at some point

Question is: how do we manage this Do we let Varcoe ride out whatever it is that has nobbled him in the seniors or give him a rocket and stick him in the twos to get his head right?

No doubt we need his explosive run and carry to help our gamestyle, but patience may be wearing thin. Unless there are factors behind the scenes that we are not aware of.

No doubt in my mind - a rocket. This isn't the under 10s; it's the top level in the country. They're professional footballers, and therefore are expected to do their job, so even if they're out of form they should least put in the effort. Which he hasn't been doing.

There's no point continuing the discussion though, the game and some supporters are so soft now that daring to suggest someone gets dropped is tantamount to treason.

 

[mwt5150]

Re: Calls for Varcoe to be dropped

10 mins into the 2nd and Trav has been benched because he's obviously a tad gassed from ripping the Crows a new arse.

Pretty simple lesson for him: if you are prepared to work as hard as you can, you are a freaking jet.

 

[alfy!]

Re: Calls for Varcoe to be dropped

Want to see him do this to a quality team though.

 

[oozeboss]

Re: Calls for Varcoe to be dropped

It's a start. No need to get narky about it.

 

[Casey Cat]

Re: Calls for Varcoe to be dropped

Pretty simple lesson for him: if you are prepared to work as hard as you can, you are a freaking jet.

"He's (Varcoe) been doing the hard work it's good to finally see him get the reward"

Cameron Ling after the game.

This myth that Trav is lazy is just that - a myth. Nothing more to say.