Emerging Cat Travis Varcoe, perhaps in the midst of a breakout season, says he wants in on the action.
With star pair Gary Ablett and Paul Chapman missing against North Melbourne last week, Varcoe enjoyed a brief run in the middle against North Melbourne.
While he booted two goals playing up forward earlier in the match, he later showed his dash in the midfield might be a useful commodity should the Cats feel the need to turn to him – or rest one of their key playmakers in attack.
Varcoe collected a career-high 20 disposals and used the ball with precision, while fellow small forwards Shannon Byrnes (three goals) and Mathew Stokes (two goals) also prospered closer to goal.
“I got drafted as a midfielder and that’s where I’m aiming to go, so hopefully I can follow the path of Chappy,” Varcoe told geelongcats.com.au this week in the lead-up to the AFL’s Indigenous Round.
“He (Chapman) started in the forward line and worked his way up into the midfield, but with the midfield we’ve got I might have to wait my turn!
“I’m happy at the moment, if I can give somebody a bit of a spell and I can get a bit of a burst myself then I’ll be rapt with that.”
Varcoe, Geelong’s first-round pick in the 2005 NAB AFL Draft, admitted he needed to make the most of last week’s midfield role, with Ablett and Chapman set to return against the Western Bulldogs on Friday night.
But his strong showing emphasised his continual progression this season. He is not only touching the ball more often, but seemingly being more constructive when doing so.
The signs were evident the young Cat, after completing his best pre-season, was set to take a leap in his career from the opening match of the year.
Varcoe was part of the Indigenous All-Stars team that beat the Adelaide Crows in February – something he says he’ll always remember as he got to rub shoulders with some of his heroes.
“Aaron Davey’s my idol, he still is and I try to sort of base my game on him and just try to add a few of my own things,” he said.
“To play alongside ‘Flash’ was something I won’t forget. And to have Andy McLeod, Daniel Motlop … just everyone really and just see how they go about it, I haven’t forgotten that weekend.”
Friday night, however, his mind will be on helping his Cats down the Western Bulldogs. And whether he’s in the midfield or in attack, the 21-year-old just wants to do his bit.
“The coaches have shown a fair bit of faith in me,” Varcoe said.
“They’ve put a lot of time into me and I’m just happy that I can restore that faith.”
