WRFL: Travis Varcoe signs with Yarraville Seddon
A two-time AFL premiership star is set to join a Western Region league club on the rise. Here’s how it all unfolded.
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Yarraville Seddon wanted experience around its young players and a former AFL player certainly fits the bill.
The Eagles have unveiled two-time Geelong premiership star Travis Varcoe as the club’s first recruit for the 2023 season.
Currently playing in the Northern Territory with Palmerston, the 34-year-old is set to add vital experience to Brad Julier’s side — considered to be one of the most exciting young groups in the Western Region Football League.
Julier revealed the signing was a whole club approach.
“He used to live in Yarraville and we’ve been in contact for the past couple of years since he finished up in the AFL,” he said.
“Trav and his family have just moved back into the area and he’s rediscovered his love of footy while playing up in the NT. His daughter goes to school with some of our juniors.
“We’ve got some good juniors and youth coming through so it was always our plan to target experienced players and we think Trav will compliment our young group nicely.
“We’re not just excited about him playing in our senior side but he’s really keen to get involved in the junior program as well which is massive for our club.”
In a recent interview with the NT News, Varcoe spoke about falling in love with the game again.
“I’m grateful and indebted to them for giving me the opportunity to find love for the game again,” he said.
“After 15 years (at the top level), it takes a toll on you. For me it was having fun again, and I feel like Palmerston, the club, has made me find that part of it.
“The group has been phenomenal. It’s a really nice place to be around.”
The Eagles have enjoyed a productive off-season so far with “everyone” from last season’s side signing on for another season.
Despite finishing eighth on the ladder with just four wins to their name, Julier believes there is plenty for his side to look forward to.
“There will be a couple of other recruits announced in the next few days,” he said.
“I thought our back half of the year was very good and now we’re hopeful of building on that and taking the next step forward as a group.
“This is why we’ve gone out after experience because we believe that’s going to help us do that.”
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