Around the Campfire Cup ‘best on ground’ medal renamed in honour of Maggie Varcoe

THE Around the Campfire Cup football tournament has named its best-on-ground medal in honour of Maggie Varcoe, who died after a freak on-field accident earlier this year.

• Margaret Varcoe, sister of AFL player Travis Varcoe, fighting for life after head clash during football game in Adelaide
• Collingwood star’s sister in fight for life after sickening collision
• AFL star Travis Varcoe’s sister dies at Royal Adelaide Hospital after football game accident

A FOOTBALL tournament that promotes inclusiveness has named its best-on-ground medal in honour of Maggie Varcoe.

Varcoe, who died in August following a head injury in an on-field collision, had featured in the Around the Campfire Cup with an Aboriginal All-Stars side over the past two years.

Speaking ahead of tomorrow’s Around the Campfire Cup at Alberton Oval, All-Stars captain Crystal Sumner said renaming the medal was a great way to honour Varcoe, the sister of Collingwood midfielder Travis Varcoe.

Maggie Varcoe playing for North Adelaide. Picture: NAFC

“The loss of Maggie hit our community very hard, and our team very hard,” Sumner said.

“For the medal to be named after her is a great honour.”

Varcoe collided with an Angle Vale teammate during the division two women’s Adelaide Footy League grand final against Mt Lofty at Thebarton Oval.

Travis Varcoe with his sister’s name on an arm band during this year’s AFL grand final between Collingwood and West Coast at the MCG. Picture: Ryan Pierse/AFL Media/Getty Images

The 27-year-old, who was also a member of North Adelaide’s SANFLW team, died in hospital four days later.

Rhiannon Busch, who plays in the SANFLW for Norwood and will feature for the Australian Defence Force team at the Around the Campfire Cup, remembers Varcoe as a fierce competitor.

“I think it’s a pretty deadly award to get,” Busch, a midfielder, said.

“I didn’t personally know Maggie, but I played against her and she was a good player. She was very quick.”

Around the Campfire Inc managing director Chad McLaren said Varcoe was a proud member of the Aboriginal All-Stars and teammates wanted her legacy honoured.

Captains Crystal Sumner from the Aboriginal All-Stars and Rhiannon Busch from the ADF Guyala ahead of the Campfire Cup. Picture: Matt Loxton

“The player awarded the medal will need to display skill, work ethic, leadership on and off the field (and) embrace the spirit of the day,” McLaren said.

The Around the Campfire Cup features seven teams comprising indigenous and non-indigenous footballers.

It is on at Alberton Oval today from 9.30am, culminating in a grand final between the top two finishers in the round robin format.