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Former AFL star Travis Varcoe says ‘a lot of players’ hated life in the hub

Former footy star Travis Varcoe says he struggled with life inside the AFL hub and revealed what other players thought of it.

Eddie McGuire describes life inside the AFL's transition hub (Footy Classified)

Former footy star Travis Varcoe says “a lot of players” hated life in the AFL quarantine hub.

Varcoe, who is competing on the Channel 10’s I’m A Celebrity ... Get Me Out Of Here, made the hub confession on the show on Monday night.

The former Geelong and Collingwood star said: “The hub was 24-7. It was actually quite hard living in the actual hub itself because I’m not one bit footy driven.

“Some players loved it, breathed it, and they excelled. But a lot of players hated it. I, personally, really struggled.”

Varcoe retired from AFL in 2020 after a 15-year career, and has joined the Western Bulldogs as an AFL development coach for the 2021 season.

Asked what it was like to play in a Grand Final, Varcoe, a two time premiership player, said: “I loved running out, hearing the energy and the roar. It’s unbelievable. I’m of the mindset, ‘This might never happen again, so just enjoy it.’”

Magpies player Travis Varcoe is seen with his daughter during the 2018 Grand Final Parade
Magpies player Travis Varcoe is seen with his daughter during the 2018 Grand Final Parade

Varcoe is outspoken about racist slurs aimed at Indigenous players by footy fans, and has campaigned for change.

“When you get into this caper of work, you grow a thick skin, but your friends, family and loved ones are not as strong as you are,” he told the Herald Sun in 2019.

“It’s very disheartening. No one should be treated like that, no matter if you’re Aboriginal or what your heritage is.”

Meanwhile, AFL legend Robert DiPierdomenico entered the reality show wilderness of I’m A Celebrity ... Get Me Out Of Here on Monday.

“I’m a guy who, when I open the door, I want to know what’s behind it; if it’s lion, crocodile or spiders, I’ll deal with it,” DiPierdomenico, popularly known as Dipper, said.

“But this time, I didn’t want to know what was around the corner. I just wanted to experience it all.”

DiPierdomenico is a five-time premiership player and Brownlow Medallist.

Other contestants on the show include singers Toni Pearen, Paulini and Jack Vidgen, and TV quiz master Grant Denyer.

“I’m still competitive,” Dipper said. “I thought I had let that go. A spider isn’t going to beat me; and by the way, spiders don’t taste bad.”

Dipper said his mission was to get picked for trials and challenges every day.

“I would prefer to eat snakes and spiders than sit in the camp all day. My head goes 100 miles and hour when I sit still. That’s when I’m tested, when I’m sitting in the camp.”

Robert DiPierdomenico is competing on I'm A Celebrity ... Get Me Out Of Here Picture: Supplied
Robert DiPierdomenico is competing on I'm A Celebrity ... Get Me Out Of Here Picture: Supplied


Dipper said he was surprised to see Varcoe in the camp.

“I told him: ‘What the hell are you doing here? I’ve watched you play for 15 years and you haven’t said boo!’ He’s a lovely spirit. When you meet a fellow footballer or athlete, you know the discipline, and you connect straight away.”

Dipper hopes people see another side of him on the reality show.

“Most people know who I am. I bumble through life at times. I’m very lucky, at my age, to do a show like this, and experience the competitiveness, teamwork, friendships and challenges.”

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Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/former-afl-star-travis-varcoe-says-a-lot-of-players-hated-life-in-the-hub/news-story/f845edca2ffc65accaffdb098f6c3cbc