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AFLW 2024 - Round 10 - Chat, game threads, injury lists, team lineups and more.
Opinion Travis Varcoe
- Thread starter vinum coupe
- Start date
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Vdubs
Hall of Famer
They are a pretty critical 6, but I don't reckon last night was the game to assess too much. WCE were depleted and ordinary and hardly competitive; even I, who as you know, am not overly confident about us, thought we'd win last pm.
Before this past month, I would have included DS, T Hunt, and I do always include Bartel, SJ and TV as critical in a GF. And ??? Chappy.
Their outs are significant;
NicNat
Hurn
LeCras
Masten
Nicoski
Kerr
Anyway, we have our important interstate win.
Duncan gets a lot of uncontested ball. Reckon Stokes has been more influential in recent games. Thought he was terrific last night. The number of times he was in-n-under was inspiring.
As for the finals, the one player who is crucial is Hawk as is having rucks who can negate the opposition from regularly giving them first use of the ball. After that it's being better at applying all ground pressure, getting numbers around the contest, moving the ball quickly and precisely et al. The same strategies all teams will follow.
meto
Norm Smith Medallist
TV doesn't revel in close situations, never has, his best game plan is the run support role, or just get loose out wide on the break.
GHS has been outstanding as we all know but then so has Cowan, just different in style, Josh is the runner but then Chappy iced the game yesterday, pretty intimidating when he gets rolling, 26 poss the week before, don't know his tally this week....I wonder?
The word from CS on GFC vid, ..Chappy had 25-26 poss yesterday!
Great summary SJ
I paid particular attention to Trav last night as I am a believer and reckon he is vital to a successful Flag assault
Confidence is the key issue - he had 18 last night but looked to handball off at every opportunity - 12 handballs and 6 kicks.
There were at least 2 opportunities when he could have run and bounced and had a high % shot - instead he opted for a low % pass. Just needs to back himself.
He also ran to the wrong side of the contest on several occasions , another sign of being low on confidence.
Just hope he finds his mojo in the next couple of weeks in readiness for a huge September
One of my criticisms of Trav in the past has been that he was just an outside player and on the occasions he was called on to go he didn't always heed the call. That changed midway through 2011 when he started doing more contested work. By the end of the year he went when called upon - revisit the 2011 GF.
All the injuries have set him back. Particularly the shoulder reco. Still hasn't regained full confidence in the shoulder in my view. Reckon that applies to Taylor Hunt too. Trav is slowly regaining confidence and will be important to us when it counts and where it counts.
Regards to SoM.
meto
Norm Smith Medallist
One of my criticisms of Trav in the past has been that he was just an outside player and on the occasions he was called on to go he didn't always heed the call. That changed midway through 2011 when he started doing more contested work. By the end of the year he went when called upon - revisit the 2011 GF.
All the injuries have set him back. Particularly the shoulder reco. Still hasn't regained full confidence in the shoulder in my view. Reckon that applies to Taylor Hunt too. Trav is slowly regaining confidence and will be important to us when it counts and where it counts.
Regards to SoM.
Understand your hopes, don't know if he's all that vital for our finals hopes as some like to say,....unlike Selwood, Bundy or Motlop, but if he's there it's important that he's a contributor, that's what he's endeavouring to be right now.
At this stage he can't be worrying about shoulders, if so that is a worry!
Everyone is vital from now on in, and that means he and they need to press fwd, otherwise replace them.
Berserker26
Senior List
Would love to see the GPS data from him, I remember reading a while ago that he's one of the blokes that runs a lot of km's - even if he's not getting the ball as much as we'd like I am sure he's providing some nusance value to the opposition. Yes, that's not enough to ensure a game in the finals however I don't remember him lighting it up every week before he ran the length of the wing on grand final day and snapped a lovely goal.
Some blokes (like Cyril) just do a little bit of magic that keep them in....
Some blokes (like Cyril) just do a little bit of magic that keep them in....
meto
Norm Smith Medallist
No Cyril, much like Varcoe is incredibly overrated by both their own fans and especially the media. Good players, but that's it. Neither are close to the most important 5 for their clubs, but people are easily seduced by flashy run or in Cyril's case a sidestep.
Berserker26
Senior List
Agree, however not all players have to be in the most important 5 for their club, just the most important 22.
meto
Norm Smith Medallist
Cyril has still got that explosiveness that Varcoe hasn't, Varcoe doesn't take on the defence and seems hesitant unless in open territory.
Cyrils leap and marking ability was on show early against the Pies, his sidestepping and acceleration where pretty impressive to kick start the Hawks, but so often after a dynamic start he goes to sleep, not that the Hawks needed to worry but you got to wonder why?
These days the young blokes like Mots and Caddy can do that stuff for us, I reckon Varcs is more a run with support player, doesn't seem to have that aggressive tenacity and cheek of a Motlop or a Cyril to run at and through a defensive line.
If he supports the others like Mots, Dunc, Stokes and Caddy and even Joel now he's a goalscoring midfielder he'll be doing his job.
I noticed an inside handpass from Varcoe that sent Stokes on his way to pass to Murdoch for his goal,...was a nice piece of play that!
Vdubs
Hall of Famer
Ideal sub material against opposition that disrespected him. That's what supersubs should do.
David the Cat
Moderator
- Moderator
- #415
I was as impressed by Caddy as anyone....but I am mindful that his DE was under 50% and thats the area of his game that lets him down....
He will work on that and no doubt improve....and as I suggested elsewhere, the next two years might show us we have picked a real gem with this kid. So far, so good.
Despite his DE, he should play next week because the high pressure Swans set-up will be great experience for a kid with a huge future.
I think we should temper our expectations just a little though...
He will work on that and no doubt improve....and as I suggested elsewhere, the next two years might show us we have picked a real gem with this kid. So far, so good.
Despite his DE, he should play next week because the high pressure Swans set-up will be great experience for a kid with a huge future.
I think we should temper our expectations just a little though...
meto
Norm Smith Medallist
I think he should play not only because of his ability to get the thing, but we can't have to many outsiders making Joel and Allen do all the work, he can rotate through for each of them.
Or play mid/fwd, one of the fittest on our list he was everywhere in the 2nd half.
The DF % is alarming, but his ball winning ability outweighs that by a mile, ...it's up to the coaching staff to sit down with him look at the game and sort it out, he can kick well enough, maybe he's playing on at all cost without first knowing the option go to.
But he's a gem, anyone who can get off the pine for a lazy 21 possessions 1/2 way through, has got plenty to offer.
I'd prefer Varcoe with the subs vest, later in the game his outside style should benefit.
Or play mid/fwd, one of the fittest on our list he was everywhere in the 2nd half.
The DF % is alarming, but his ball winning ability outweighs that by a mile, ...it's up to the coaching staff to sit down with him look at the game and sort it out, he can kick well enough, maybe he's playing on at all cost without first knowing the option go to.
But he's a gem, anyone who can get off the pine for a lazy 21 possessions 1/2 way through, has got plenty to offer.
I'd prefer Varcoe with the subs vest, later in the game his outside style should benefit.
- Banned
- #417
tries to win contested footy and then handball out of the pack a lot of the time which also contributes to poor disposal efficiency (has to be a clean possession to generate DE) his kicking is fine though, is actually a lovely kick on both sides of the body, certainly can turn it completely over but so did Bartel, Kelly and Ling when they first started.
meto
Norm Smith Medallist
Stuffs up under physical pressure because he hasn't got a heart for anything inside, he is strictly an outside player.
When he's outside on his own of course he can occasionally hurt the opposition, for ex that goal which looked great. But his game is purely outside and his numbers will always be limited due to this.
That's another reason why his disposal efficiency is usually good, not being under heavy pressure although 66% on Sat.
Problem with him is, in a hot game his opportunities will be limited, that's why although midfield his numbers for there are low.
If the MC like to have this sort of player for the occassional opportunist goal or the link up then fine, I think we've got enough!.. but he carn't be relied upon in traffic, just an observation.
That's why I think he'd be a better sub.
Senatorguesty
Cancelled
its the vortex....best to not be drawn in.
Slowing getting better each week. Defiantly won't be dropped come finals time and plays well in big games. I'm thinking he will do some damage in the finals.
meto
Norm Smith Medallist
No, Travis doesn't like it hard inside but he might be of use on the lose outside!
He had 2 touches in the dying seconds of the 1st quarter when the ball was hot,....generally starts to find it as the game opens and he gets on the end of it.
Providing he keeps a high disposal eff he can still be of value.
Hoffy95
Norm Smith Medallist
Neither do I. Don't hold that against him!
Trav is just starting to find his form again - Will be a major player in September
InsideRail
Debutant
I like Travis, but I wish he would learn to use two hands to get the ball, instead of trying to do his one handed grab and runs. I suspect it keeps him a little removed from getting in and under, but the amount of fumbles and over running of the ball is a worry. Tackling and occasional cameos (on the outside) are good.
