Roast Varcoe

[MC Extra Dollop]

why would Varcoe wanna turn up today anyways against one of the worst teams in the competiton?

You don't take a Maybach out to pick up the fish and chips. You save it for the important trips.

 

[AM]

No question that there is more improvement in Trav. And I'm not sure he's fully confident in his shoulder yet which may account for him not living up to expectations so far this year.

That said, he has been around for quite some time now and we keep labeling him a "star" of the future. Somehow I doubt he'll ever produce the consistently high level performances to earn the "star" tag.

 

[David the Cat]

Varcoe has been excellent in the first two games.

Criticism earlier was based around him only getting 13 -16 disposals and he needed to get more.

Well he may not have been at his scintillating best today but a lazy 22 disposals ( yes...too many handballs perhaps ) today shows he is getting more and more of the ball. He is becoming a key part of our on-ball brigade.

His footskills are a joy to watch and he has real pace.

He will be something else on the MCG...

 

[cats2rise]

Agree. He was pretty poor today, and goes to ground WAY too much. He throws his body at an opponent even when they are out of reach and simply lands on the ground.

Wasnt impressed today.

 

[TheHonestyPolicy]

What a steaming pile of shit this thread is.

A great number of players today understandably struggled with the blustery conditions particularly when the defensive press was at its height in the first half. If it was a clear day at Etihad, maybe, but it wasnt.

With Wojo out of the side I am sure Trav was instructed to offer us some run and carry today. To not get bogged down. The conditions didnt allow for it.

Unless you are Jesus Christ for some people in here........

 

[David the Cat]

What a steaming pile of shit this thread is.

A great number of players today understandably struggled with the blustery conditions particularly when the defensive press was at its height in the first half. If it was a clear day at Etihad, maybe, but it wasnt.

With Wojo out of the side I am sure Trav was instructed to offer us some run and carry today. To not get bogged down. The conditions didnt allow for it.

Unless you are Jesus Christ for some people in here........

Far too sensible THP..one of the few who see the bigger picture that comes into play from week to week....... keep it coming!!

 

[Vdubs]

Might be a little harsh but can see where the OP is coming from. Too much damn handballing and trying to be cute today from Trav rather than bursting through and killing teams with his kicking like he can do.

And defensively his attempts at tackles today were bloody awful. Port players casually stepped around or broke his tackles with ease all day. Kelly or Bartel need to give him a quick lesson this week on aiming the tackle at the hips and locking it in hard.

You don't need me to defend TV, but his tackling is not going to be up to scratch for some time yet. That shoulder recon takes 6 months for full strength and confidence to return. He needs to be the player that gets the ball any way he can and then create play and mesmerise the opposition. Something like he did today. Sure he did not do stuff to be cute. That narrow ground with the tricky wind--hardly ever see Wojo sparkle there either in such conditions.

 

[The Casey Cat]

Varcoe is our best defensive player in the team alongside Boris.

No he isn't. That is a terrible call. Don't get me wrong he is very important to us with what he provides with his pace and forward pressure but that does not make him our 'best defensive player' or necessarily great at the art of tackling.

He is like Alwyn Davey and Rioli when applying the pressure and is probably the best tackler at doing exactly what you reckon he needs to learn from Kelly and Bartel

If you think he is anywhere near as good at tackling as Bartel or Kelly I'm not sure you are really worth arguing with.

Now I am not saying Trav is a poor tackler full stop. Just that he was not great against Port and I can understand the reasons Veedubs provided above for why that might have been. BTW have seen Wojak pretty much make a career out of 'sparkling in those conditions' too.

Gotta agree with many in here, this thread is bloody ridiculous! Am not surprised though considering the thread starter is an infatuated Collingwood lover ('yeh', they have surpassed the 3-peat Lions......my ass!")

Get over it! If the thread was really that 'ridiculous' it would not have been backed by a moderator and another former mod. And I'd quit ignorantly labelling VC (a very good contributor to this forum for years pal, unlike yourself!) a Collingwood lover too!

 

[Pure_Ownage]

I agree Varcs handballed too much today, but he wasn't alone.

Would have loved to see some of those tackles stick, but for goodness sake the bloke's spent 3 months out with a shoulder, it's not exactly unexpected that he'd have issues with stuff like that early doors. He will get better.

I just hope they tell him to use his pace and take it on, he can be so damaging if he does that, instead of gliding past contests or handballing to teammates.

 

[bulletproof]

He is almost as bad a handballer as the last number 5!

Varcoe's form has been middling but given the pre-season he had that is more than acceptable.

I'll be disappointed if he is playing like this come July but I don't think he will be.

Crucial, crucial player for us.

 

[Belisarius]

He is almost as bad a handballer as the last number 5!

Varcoe's form has been middling but given the pre-season he had that is more than acceptable.

I'll be disappointed if he is playing like this come July but I don't think he will be.

Crucial, crucial player for us.

Fair assessment. Played ok but nothing special in this game.

 

[cynical]

He needs a bit of max rooke.

As good as varcoe is he just plays like he is a protected species too much.

 

[rizzo]

Just struggled to get into in for mine. Looked ok when they used him, but hardly a "terrible game". Considering we have three or four players get 30+ touches each, Trav was never going to have a massive influence on the game.

 

[vinum coupe]

Might be a little harsh but can see where the OP is coming from. Too much damn handballing and trying to be cute today from Trav rather than bursting through and killing teams with his kicking like he can do.

And defensively his attempts at tackles today were bloody awful. Port players casually stepped around or broke his tackles with ease all day. Kelly or Bartel need to give him a quick lesson this week on aiming the tackle at the hips and locking it in hard.

It's because he was being half arsed. And he does it a lot.
He won't commit to the tackle.

It's like he wants to out think the opponent and intercept the handball that is given off so he sort of tackles with one arm.

Under the weight of movement by the opponent his tackles are pretty easily thrown. And it's disappointing because he is a great tackler.

Comparing him to Rioli by someone earlier is crazy. Rioli chases and makes them stick. Varcoe chases and gives the opponent a tap on the bum as he runs past.

 

[JUBJUB]

I was getting frustrated with him today being handball happy. He would be in a position to have a shot himself, but would always try to pass it off instead.

His handballs drive you nuts.He handballs to a teammate about 20cm away and not expecting it.You just wish he'd kick the bloody thing at times instead of a dinky handball that ends in a turnover.

 

[vinum coupe]

Would have loved to see some of those tackles stick, but for goodness sake the bloke's spent 3 months out with a shoulder, it's not exactly unexpected that he'd have issues with stuff like that early doors. He will get better.

I just hope they tell him to use his pace and take it on, he can be so damaging if he does that, instead of gliding past contests or handballing to teammates.

Fair point by you and VD. I'd forgotten about the shoulder.

 

[James1970]

He needs a bit of max rooke.

As good as varcoe is he just plays like he is a protected species too much.

Hey, hey, hey. Let's not get carried away here. The world would be a beautiful, peaceful and thrilling place to be if we all had a bit a Maxy, but c'mon, there's only one. For that we are, and always will be, eternally grateful. Sure, we can dream. Nothing wrong with that. But life is hard enough as it is to want the impossible.

 

[Lunchlady Doris]

Liked his last 2 games, they were... promising.
I love Varcs. Truly. And I am going to be harder on him now. I want more.
It's no longer 'being groomed' it's 'make a difference' time.

We were told that this year was about harassment, containment, etc.
It's only because I want the ball in his hands that I watch him so much.
But he peels away from the contest.... All the time

No more please. Make a difference up the ground or just stay in a pocket.

Was excellent as a link up man through the centre yesterday, silky handballs always to a teammates advantage led to some awesome defence to offence transitions.

Played an important role, your criticism is silly.

 

[Casey Cat]

Just watched the game. What a piece of stinking poo this thread is. I have no idea what VC expects of Trav yesterday given the conditions and his pre-season but Trav was good.

Thread = fail.

 

[The Casey Cat]

Just watched the game. What a piece of stinking poo this thread is. I have no idea what VC expects of Trav yesterday given the conditions and his pre-season but Trav was good.

Thread = fail.

Many people have agreed with the topic. Probably more than have disagreed. Does not indicate a failed thread. My god quite a few here are being awfully sooky and precious. We just want him too lift a bit like we ALL agreed he needed to in the absence of Jnr. In no way giving up on him or anything like that. Am sure he will improve.

 

[you pick one]

Only watched the second quarter so far and paid particular attention to Trav after reading this thread, played outside,outside,outside mid.definitely conscious of the shoulder,perfect example of touch footy from him in that quarter,might be a while before he lays another Lance Franklin type tackle.

 

[CF]

matbe the mods should remove the roast tag from this thread then that would then just make this a discussion about Trav rather than and out and out bagging

 

[candiehappy]

matbe the mods should remove the roast tag from this thread then that would then just make this a discussion about Trav rather than and out and out bagging

totally agree, the bloke is a sensation, getting better and had a less than perfect day at the office. Put it in to prespective, does the OP know how Scott told him to play? Was Scott unhappy with his performance?

 

[hbk_aus]

I am a big fan but thought he had a quiet one yesterday. A few times the ball just bounced over or away from him, but others he didnt seem to have that explosive movement. I was sitting near the bench and noticed he got some work done on the hamstrings by the physio while he was on the bench so maybe he was a bit sore. But if so, he needs to learn how to play sore like the more experienced players do.

 

[AM]

matbe the mods should remove the roast tag from this thread then that would then just make this a discussion about Trav rather than and out and out bagging

Methinks you're being a tad precious due to your man love for Trav. After all, you've bagged the s@*t out of Tomahawk with such illuminating stuff as "spud".

What's good for the goose is good for the gander, CF.