What about Varcoe now?

[GTOA]

Travis Varcoe has been a very good pick-up for Collingwood this year, played very well last Thursday night, and looks like coming out the best of the three way trade, with Mitch Clark injured and Lumumba struggling.

Meto and his mates bagged Varcoe on this board for years. There was no let-up.

I admit, early years, Varcoe needed to work harder, and was just on the fringes of the team. But he showed in the 2011 GF that he can produce big performances in big games.

Also, Varcoe played an instrumental role in the 2009 GF, when he handballed off the pack to Paul Chapman, who kicked the winning goal.

However, people turned on him in 2012, when he didn't live up to GF form. But he was injured all of 2012, came back in 2013, did his shoulder and missed 10 weeks. Yet Meto and mates expected Varcoe to be in stellar form coming back from back-to-back injuries.

Also, Varcoe was solely blamed for us missing the 2013 GF, because he kicked a behind on the run in the dying minutes, instead of a goal in the PF. Firstly, a goal wouldn't have won us the game, it would have only tied it, sending it into extra time. Geelong were buggered on their feet, while Hawthorn were still up and about, and I think they would have blown us away in that extra ten minutes. So, Varcoe WASN'T the reason we missed the GF.

I also think that maybe we should have kept Varcoe, and offered something else to get Mitch Clark instead. We lost Christensen to Brisbane, so already lost some pace. So, by losing Varcoe as well, we lost two runners.

Are you still glad we got rid of Varcoe, or do you think that we could do with him now, and maybe Travis Varcoe in 2015 form would help us, or not?

 

[Jhye Clark 13]

He'd still be going through the motion here. A change of coach is what he needed.

 

[WaxiesDargle]

What about him?
He's gone so who cares

 

[bulletproof]

Varcoe turned his form around very late last season and has continued his better form. He was actually ok in finals last year.

I don't regret the trade at all, Varcoe was not traded for purely football reasons and I think we were quite happy to give him a fresh start.

I am pleased to see him in some good form, he had unfortunate luck with injury at Geelong.

 

[STP18]

Has a real hard edge about him now at the Pies. Of the games I've watched he plays much more aggressively. Happy to see him playing well, seems like the change was exactly what he needed.

 

[JUBJUB]

If Varcoe were still here players like Thurlow or Murdoch might not be getting games each week.
He would makes absolutely no difference to our current position.

 

[Jhye Clark 13]

If Varcoe were still here players like Thurlow or Murdoch might not be getting games each week.
He would makes absolutely no difference to our current position.

He'd be one of too few who actually put there body on the line. I think its time a few woke up and stopped being so precious.

 

[Dinga_19]

Will have a better season than Clark but there is much more upside to Clark when you take into consideration their ages..

 

[geelong_crazy26]

No .He is the type of player that plays well when the side is doing well. He is also an outside player not an inside player which is what we need at the moment.

 

[geelong_crazy26]

He'd be one of too few who actually put there body on the line. I think its time a few woke up and stopped being so precious.

He is one of the softest players to put on a Geelong jumper over the past 10 years. He did have some outside skill but that's not what we are missing at the present.

 

[Jhye Clark 13]

He is one of the softest players to put on a Geelong jumper over the past 10 years. He did have some outside skill but that's not what we are missing at the present.

Really. I see him in an entirely different light now, why is that? A coach who doesn't tolerate the soft approach?

 

[Mahlepi]

reality check
playing at another level

 

[geelong_crazy26]

Really. I see him in an entirely different light now, why is that? A coach who doesn't tolerate the soft approach?

I am more than happy to compare Bucks and Scott's coaching record if that's what you want ?

Every time I watch him play he has to take his eyes of the ball and watch what his opponent is doing to minimise and physical contact .Did the same thing at Geelong.

 

[Jhye Clark 13]

I am more than happy to compare Bucks and Scott's coaching record if that's what you want ?

Every time I watch him play he has to take his eyes of the ball and watch what his opponent is doing to minimise and physical contact .Did the same thing at Geelong.

I'm not interested in coaching records. Not hard for Scott inheriting a champion side. I do like what Bucks has done though with a young unheralded list and after all the recent criticism. Credit where its due.

As for Varcoe you are simply wrong.

 

[Biggy_Boy]

Also, Varcoe was solely blamed for us missing the 2013 GF, because he kicked a behind on the run in the dying minutes, instead of a goal in the PF. Firstly, a goal wouldn't have won us the game, it would have only tied it, sending it into extra time. Geelong were buggered on their feet, while Hawthorn were still up and about, and I think they would have blown us away in that extra ten minutes. So, Varcoe WASN'T the reason we missed the GF.

I don't really think that's the case. I think most would admit that we lost it by making dumb decisions and mistakes in the final quarter (likely due to fatigue) and having two of our stars absent didn't help. Would have been nice if Varcoe had kicked it, but the game was lost before that moment, and I think most on here realize that..

 

[cynical]

last season Varcoe was concerned about his body and fair enough why risk your career during the home and away

leading into the finals Varcoe was one of our best players and in that final against the Hawks he put everything on the line

saying he is soft is just rubbish, he is an outside player with elite disposal and good pace

some people still don't get the concept of inside players and outside players, elite players can do both but there are plenty of very good players who are one or the other

I was fine with giving Varcoe a fresh start but it should have been for a second round pick that turned into a kid not a washed up KPF with physical and mental issues (id have been happy for a mid 30's pick for Varcoe and a pick like 55/Taylor Hunt for Clark)

 

[cats2rise]

No winner in the trade yet, too early to suggest otherwise. Give it another 18 months.

 

[ATSAM]

But he is happy playing with Collingwood in front of the big crowds so he says. Our small ground and small crowds didn't suit him. No loss to us.
To be fair though we did try to move him on in 2012??? so guess he might have felt peeved.

 

[JUBJUB]

He'd be one of too few who actually put there body on the line. I think its time a few woke up and stopped being so precious.

Clearly you haven't watched a Collingwood game this year

BTW R.I.P Son of God and welcome Nakia

 

[zb14]

I'm not interested in coaching records. Not hard for Scott inheriting a champion side

Well, Bucks inherited a side that were Premiers and Runners-Up in the previous two seasons. Prelim finalists in 2 of 3 seasons before that. A very young Premiership side in '10 as well. There are very short memories about just what Bucks inherited these days, and plenty of water to go under the bridge re Collingwood's next few years.

 

[Whit3y]

i think jubbys gif summed it up best

 

[InnocentBystandr]

Sometimes players need a change of environment to re-invogorate their game. Varcoe always had talent (note how many highlight reels feature him), but in the last couple of seasons he wasn't demonstrating it at Geelong. I've watched a few Collingwood games this year, and he does seem harder at the ball (and the opposition) than he was last year with us. I remember him being noted for his defensive pressure in his early years. St Kilda supporters are probably saying something similar about Reece Stanley (before he was injured) playing better with us than he did with them.
Ottens?
Mooney?
(Eddie Betts at Adelaide?)

 

[hamG]

I think he's neither better nor worse than he was before.

 

[JUBJUB]

I think he's neither better nor worse than he was before.

He's exactly the same as he was at Geelong,for which he got shitcanned for by a lot of supporters.
He still avoids contests,he still skirts packs,he still often just pushes or kicks the ball along the ground and he still handballs to teammates under pressure because he doesn't look.

Nothing has changed except his jumper colour.

 

[Farmer2Goggin]

Sometimes players need a change of environment to re-invogorate their game. Varcoe always had talent (note how many highlight reels feature him), but in the last couple of seasons he wasn't demonstrating it at Geelong. I've watched a few Collingwood games this year, and he does seem harder at the ball (and the opposition) than he was last year with us. I remember him being noted for his defensive pressure in his early years. St Kilda supporters are probably saying something similar about Reece Stanley (before he was injured) playing better with us than he did with them.
Ottens?
Mooney?
(Eddie Betts at Adelaide?)

Totally agree , he looks much harder this season and is tackling and bumping with conviction again - maybe the shoulder is OK now.
Also looks a much more confident player and is choosing much better otions rather than giving off hospital handballs as he did with us.
Clearly something has changed him for the better and he is now realising his considerable potential - at least from the Pies games I've seen