North Adelaide SANFLW players will have “MV21” printed on their guernseys this season to pay tribute to their late teammate, Maggie Varcoe

North Adelaide’s SANFLW players will have Maggie Varcoe’s initials and playing number on their guernseys this season to pay tribute to their late teammate.

Nadia von Bertouch, Sarah Ellis and Cristie Castle wearing North Adelaide guernseys with “MV21” on them, in memory of former teammate Maggie Varcoe, who died last year. Picture: AAP/Morgan Sette

NORTH Adelaide’s women’s team will pay tribute to the late Maggie Varcoe this season by donning her initials and playing number on the front of its 2019 guernseys.

Varcoe, who died in August following a head injury in an on-field collision, played 14 games for the Roosters across the 2017 and 2018 SANFLW seasons, including the grand final loss to Norwood in the club’s inaugural campaign.

North is also planning to name an end-of-year trophy after the 27-year-old to keep her legacy alive.

Maggie Varcoe in action for North Adelaide. Picture: NAFC

Roosters football manager Daryl Wintle said having “MV21” on the front of the guernseys was a perfect way to honour Varcoe, the sister of Collingwood midfielder Travis Varcoe.

Wintle said the trophy set to be named in honour of “Margie”, as she was affectionately known to teammates, would likely be awarded to a player who always put the team first.

“It’s an outstanding initiative from our playing group,” Wintle said.

“Margie was very quiet, but she was highly respected by the club, the coaches and the players.”

Varcoe collided with an Angle Vale teammate during the division two women’s Adelaide Footy League grand final against Mt Lofty at Thebarton Oval and died in hospital four days later.

Angle Vale decided to retire Varcoe’s No. 1 guernsey to acknowledge the effect she had at the club.

Roosters co-captain Nadia von Bertouch was teammates with Varcoe last year and remembered her as courageous player.

“We thought it was a nice way to do a tribute to and having her initials on our guernseys is just a reminder that we want to play for her,” von Bertouch said.

“Something as tragic as that makes you realise how important your players are around you and how close the football community is.

“Every time Margie was near the ball, I felt confident she was going to win it and I could trust she would do something special with it.

“She was a little bit cheeky at times and was always wearing her crazy socks to training.

“She just came in, did her job and there was no fuss.”

North kicks off its campaign against Norwood at Richmond Oval tonight.